Lebanese Guerrillas Attack Posts in Israeli Zone, Triggering Retaliation
Guerrillas attacked a string of military posts in the Israeli-occupied zone of southern Lebanon early Wednesday, provoking airstrikes and artillery shelling, Lebanese security officials said.
Hezbollah guerrillas claimed responsibility for the rocket and machine-gun attacks, which began shortly after midnight, saying they scored “direct and definite hits” on several positions.
The security officials, speaking on condition they not be identified by name, confirmed the attacks, saying Israeli troops and their allied militiamen responded by shelling the source of fire north of the Israeli-occupied enclave.
An Israeli helicopter gunship fired two missiles at targets in a valley near the village of Majdal Silim. There was no immediate report of casualties or damage, the officials said.
Tuesday, Israeli warplanes fired four missiles at suspected guerrilla hide-outs along the Iqlim el Toufah ridges, but there were no casualties.
The Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group has led a war of attrition to drive Israel out of southern Lebanon.
Israel plans to withdraw from the enclave by July 7. The Israeli army invaded Lebanon in 1978 and created a 9-mile-deep buffer zone along the border in 1985 to deter guerrilla attacks on northern Israel.
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