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Israeli Strikes Pound Beirut, Massive Explosions Rock City Sunday
At least 18 massive explosions rocked the city, sending plumes of smoke over Beirut. Lebanese officials say earlier strikes across the country killed at least 10 civilians.The airstrikes hit Beirut as Israeli officials announced the country's Cabinet approved a U.N. ceasefire deal, to take affect Monday. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said Hezbollah militants have fired a barrage of rockets at communities in northern Israel, killing one civilian and wounding at least 12 others. Israeli officials say the civilian was killed Sunday when a rocket struck a house in a northwestern community near the Lebanese border. Earlier, Lebanese officials said Israeli warplanes struck targets across Lebanon Sunday, killing at least five people. Israel's military says five Israeli troops were killed when their helicopter was shot down Saturday in southern Lebanon. They were among 24 soldiers killed in clashes with Hezbollah militants - the most Israeli military losses in a single day since the conflict began a month ago. Israel says it killed more than 40 Hezbollah guerrillas Saturday as the military offensive expanded. Israel says 30,000 troops are operating in Lebanon, and some have already reached the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli border. Israel is trying to push Hezbollah north of the Litani before a ceasefire is declared, most likely beginning Monday. At least 900 Lebanese - most of them civilians - have been killed since the fighting began. More than 140 Israelis - most of them soldiers - have died since Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, triggering the fighting on July 12. Posted by: Oztralian 2006-08-13 |
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