For all the civilian carnage, what has been the death toll among

[joemurphy]

the combatants?

I've heard around 20 Israelis have been killed. As for Hezbollah fighters, the only figure I've seen anywhere is 2 killed.

Does anyone have any better figures?

[Purveyor]

1. I've heard around 30 Hezbollah killed but that was 3 days ago n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. IDF: Over 200 Hizbullah casualties

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3284343,00.html

[joemurphy]

3. Hmmm...I found this on the casualties:

Around 30 Israeli soldiers. Hezbollah claims 42 of theirs dead.

<http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LEBANON_ISRAEL?SITE=WAOLY&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT>

[joemurphy]

4. Core Hezbollah fighters number around 700

The actual number of Hezbollah involved in the fighting is also interesting:

"Their number is a closely guarded figure, according to Goksel and other analysts in Lebanon. A core of about 700 full-time and highly trained fighters forms the backbone of the organization's militia, they said, backed by part-time villagers variously estimated to number between 8,000 and 20,000.

The core group has received the most training, particularly in the operation of missiles and rockets. Its members are highly motivated, having received guarantees that their families will be looked after and their children educated at Hezbollah's expense if they die in combat."

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/26/AR2006072601714_pf.html>

If the Israelis have killed 200, one has to wonder if they are the "core" of 700 (in which case they are doing very well) or the "part-time villagers" (in which case they aren't doing so well).