Israel decides not to expand offensive
(AP)
Updated: 2006-07-27 21:22
Top Israeli Cabinet ministers on Thursday decided not to expand the country's
Lebanon offensive, Israel Radio reported. But they approved calling up three
additional divisions of reserve soldiers. Meanwhile, a Hezbollah rocket hit a
chemical plant in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shemona, security
officials said.
The type of chemicals involved and the extent of the
damage were not immediately known. During Israel's 17-day offensive in Lebanon,
Hezbollah has fired more than 1,400 rockets into Israel.
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A hole caused by an Israeli warplane missile can be seen atop
the roof of a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance, one of the ambulances that
were hit by Iraeli warplane missiles Sunday, in the southern coastal city
of Tyre, Lebanon, Thursday July 27, 2006.
[AP]
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During a meeting of the security Cabinet on whether to expand the attacks in
Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the goals of the offensive are
being met.
The decision came as the military pounded suspected Hezbollah positions
across Lebanon on Thursday. The attacks extended the air campaign a day after
the military suffered its highest one-day casualty toll since the offensive
began.
An Israeli Cabinet minister said lack of agreement on a cease-fire gave
Israel permission to press deeper to wipe out the Islamic militant group.
The airstrikes also hit a Lebanese army base and a radio relay station and
destroyed several roads. The series of raids in northern, eastern and southern
Lebanon killed at least one person and wounded others.
On Wednesday, a high-level Mideast conference in Rome ended in disagreement,
with most European leaders urging an immediate cease-fire, but the US willing to
give Israel more time to punish the guerrilla group.
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