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Israeli Soldiers Move Into Lebanese Village
 Israel's Air Force today pressed ahead with punishing bombing raids on Lebanon, and Israeli soldiers moved into a village just across the Lebanese border in what the military described as a limited operation against a Hezbollah stronghold. Israeli soldiers in armored vehicles were operating today in Maroun al-Ras, an area where intense firefights took place on Wednesday and Thursday. Six Israeli soldiers and a number of Hezbollah fighters were killed in those battles just across the border.The Israeli troops were in control today, but the military was continuing to hit nearby areas with bombs or shells. The Israeli soldiers were searching for Hezbollah bunkers and other posts, as well as rockets and other arms, the military said. According to an Associated Press report from the border, a group of Israeli tanks, bulldozers and personnel carriers knocked down a border fence and entered the Maroun al-Ras this afternoon. Gunfire could be heard from the village, the A.P. reported, and artillery based inside Israel also was firing into the area. In all, up to 2,000 Israeli troops entered the area today, but some later returned to Israel. The Israeli Army is looking to systematically destroy Hezbollah positions near the border, but the military leadership remains extremely wary of a large-scale ground incursion. Posted by: Fred 2006-07-22 |
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