Israeli Commandos get Caught in Lebananon ; 1 killed in Operation

It is important to remember that the Shia at 40% are by far the largest group in Lebanon, which has perahps 10 ethnic/religious communities.. Hezbollah is largely an organization of the Shia. These people and their descendants have lived in this land uninterruptedly since before the folks living there were divided by the creation of different religions such as Judaism or Islam.

Israel has occupied parts of the West Bank, but also parts of Lebanon and Syria for many years. It is problematical to say that any killing of Israeli soldiers or settlers in these territories is "terrorism" and that these group should pacifically accept Israeli occupation for an indeterminate time before Israel will discuss returning the seized land from these three areas. It is doubtful Americans would agree to a similar arrangement if Mexico seized part of the US and then made a similar offer to eventually negotiate a possible return of some the seized land if all violent resistance ended.
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Hezbollah claims it foiled IDF raid near Baalbek
IDF officer killed in commando raid in east Lebanon; Raid aimed to prevent arms deliveries to Hebzollah
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and News Agencies

An Israel Defense Forces officer was killed and two other officers were wounded - one seriously - during a commando raid near the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon early Saturday.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said the unit was transported by helicopter before dawn, and was being driven in two vehicles to raid the office of senior Hezbollah official Sheikh Mohammed Yazbek in the village of Bodai before being intercepted by Hezbollah militants.

The commandos identified themselves as the Lebanese army, but the guerrillas grew suspicious and gunfire erupted, forcing the unit to retreat.


Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the raid was a "naked violation" of a United Nations truce between Israel and Hezbollah.

"It is a naked violation of the cessation of hostilities declared by the Security Council," Siniora told reporters. He said he protested the incident to visiting UN envoys who would take the matter up with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Lebanese security officials later said that three Hezbollah guerillas were killed in the fighting.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Beri, Hezbollah's main ally in government, said he also raised the incident with the envoys.

"If Lebanon had launched a similar act, wouldn't the Security Council have met to impose tough sanctions against it?" Beri asked, adding that he saw the raid as an attempt by Israel to provoke Hezbollah into retaliation and foil the deployment of the Lebanese army in south Lebanon.

"I'm sure that the resistance (Hezbollah) has enough awareness and realization of the conspiracy to refrain ... from retaliating ...," he said.

Earlier Saturday, Israeli aircraft fired several rockets at a target in a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon early on Saturday morning, a Lebanese security source said.

The IDF said the assault aimed to disrupt arms smuggling to Hezbollah from Iran and Syria and that such operations would continue until "an effective monitoring unit" was in place to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its arsenal.

"Special forces carried out an operation to disrupt terror actions against Israel with an emphasis on the transfer of munitions from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah," the IDF said, adding that the operation had achieved all its aims.

"If the Syrians and Iran continue to arm Hezbollah in violation of the (UN cease-fire) resolution, Israel is entitled to act to defend the principle of the arms embargo," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said. "Once the Lebanese army and the international forces are active... then such Israeli activity will become superfluous."

The provincial government official, Bekaa Valley Gov. Antoine Suleiman, confirmed the troop landing.

Following the battle, Israel Air Force helicopters fired missiles as the commandos withdrew, leaving the area within an hour.

Witnesses at the site saw a destroyed bridge about 500 meters from the area where the landing took place. The witnesses said they believed it was destroyed by Israeli missiles.

IAF warplanes crisscrossed the skies above Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley early Saturday near Baalbek, security officials said.

The IAF has not attacked Lebanon since the UN cease-fire was implemented August 14.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to release information to reporters, could not confirm whether there were any airstrikes.

Similar overflights were reported in the area Friday night.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/752185.html