Fragile Ceasefire Holding, Despite Two Incidents
16:48 Aug 14, '06 / 20 Av 5766
by Hillel Fendel
Two Hizbullah terrorists were killed in two separate clashes with IDF troops in southern Lebanon, but the ceasefire is largely holding. 161 Israelis hospitalized with wartime wounds.
At noon, the first ceasefire-threatening incident was reported: A Hizbullah terrorist cell detected "moving in a threatening manner," according to the IDF announcement, was fired upon by an IDF force near Hadta, in the western sector of southern Lebanon. One terrorist was killed.
Shortly afterwards, another terrorist was killed in a separate clash in the eastern sector. No Israelis were hurt in the battles.
The two incidents have been the only clashes since 8 AM this morning, when the UN-approved ceasefire took effect.
Nine IDF soldiers were killed on Sunday, in the last 24 hours before the onset of the ceasefire. Four of them were killed late yesterday morning by an anti-tank rocket at an infantry force, an officer was killed by a mortar shell, and two reservists were killed yesterday evening by an anti-tank shell. Late this afternoon (Monday), it was learned that two other soldiers had been killed Sunday night in an anti-tank rocket strike.
Northern Command O.C. Gen. Udi Adam says he is concerned about the "fragility" of the ceasefire, saying that the arrangement has many "holes."
The three hospitals in the north - Rambam in Haifa, Sieff in Tzfat, and Nahariya - are currently treating 114 soldiers and 47 civilians wounded in the nearly five weeks of warfare. Among them are 34 in serious condition and 47 in moderate condition; the others are listed as lightly wounded.
The proportion of Israelis killed in the warfare are very similar: 41 civilians, among them 17 Arabs and Druze, and 117 soldiers.
Since the war started, Sieff Hospital admitted 1,479 patients with war injuries, among them 796 soldiers.
Though the ceasefire has taken effect, Defense Minister Amir Peretz made it clear that the naval and land blockade of Lebanon would not be lifted until other elements of the UN ceasefire resolution have been implemented. Travel in and out of Lebanon will be restricted until a system to supervise border crossings and prevent terrorists from acquiring arms from outside the country is put into effect.
The army went to great pains to make sure that each of the 30,000 troops in Lebanon understands that no offensive action is to be taken, unless life-threatening Hizbullah action is detected. The noted presence of an armed Hizbullah terrorist or a vehicle carrying arms or weapons will result in IDF fire.
This, in contrast with a document sent by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Israel, saying that Israel will be permitted to open fire only after a request for such is submitted to the UN and the UN approves it in writing.
Hizbullah's Last Surprises
In the last night of fighting before the ceasefire went into effect, Hizbullah planned at least two major attacks against Israel. An IDF reserves force operating in Lebanon just north of the Israeli border city Metulah discovered a truck-bomb on its way to an attack - either in Israel or against IDF forces in the area. The forces attacked and destroyed the truck.
In addition, two Hizbullah drones headed south towards Israel were detected and downed. One of the two may have fallen because of a malfunction. At least one of them was found to be carrying explosives.
The IDF also continued to attack terrorist targets and infrastructures, as well as the terrorists themselves, in southern Lebanon, last night. Among the 178 targets attacked aerially last night were 11 Katyusha launchers, 122 buildings that served as Hizbullah weapons storehouses and the like, four tunnels, and more. In addition, two terrorists were killed and two others were hit in two separate incidents over the night.
The names of 23 of the 24 IDF soldiers killed on Saturday were known by Sunday morning, and the last one - Sgt. Uri Grossman, 20, of Mevaseret Zion - was cleared for publication yesterday. He was the son of the well-known left-wing writer David Grossman, who held a joint press conference with two other authors just this past Thursday, calling on the government to agree to a ceasefire and not to expand the ground offensive.
The IDF estimates that over 530 Hizbullah terrorists were killed in the course of the warfare. The army publicized the names of 180 of them, who were positively identified, by dropping leaflets and temporarily taking over the Hizbullah television and radio station. The IDF has another several dozen names of terrorists it knows are dead.
Fragile Ceasefire Holding, Despite Two Incidents
