|
Nablus gets thumped...
In the biggest sweep in months, Israeli troops stormed into Nablus in dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, rounding up 30 suspected Palestinian militants. With Israeli helicopter gunships hovering overhead, armored vehicles poured into the city before dawn Wednesday. As the vehicles patrolled the mostly deserted streets, a few youths threw stones and firebombs. "This operation will continue as long as we believe that it is valuable in damaging the terror infrastructure," said Shaul Mofaz, the defense minister. "We are not limited in time, we are not limited in the type of operation." "Our biggest constraint is trying to find the sonsofbitches..." The focus of Wednesday's raid were several militant strongholds â the Old City, two neighborhoods near An Najah University, as well as the Balata and Askar refugee camps on the outskirts of Nablus. There were sporadic gunfights but no injuries reported. Several explosions were heard in the Old City, or Casbah, apparently set off by soldiers breaking open doors. Tanks sealed all exits from the Casbah, a maze of alleys and covered passageways and the scene of fierce fighting in April. Troops took over a nearby girls' elementary school as a makeshift base. Israel declared Nablus a closed military zone, and soldiers barred journalists from taking pictures or talking to those rounded up. The army said 30 suspected militants were arrested. I think the IDF has pretty well had it up to here with the journos. I hope they get the guys they're looking for — and a few others, too. Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-11-13 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=7802 |