File this one under,"HolyCrap!": .......................................................................................................................................................................
In retaliation for Hezbollah kidnapping two Israeli soldiers Israel bombed dozens of targets in Lebanon including Beirut's Airport, Hezbollah's TV Station, several bridges, and other targets. Additionally Israel instituted a naval and air blockade of Lebanon to stop Syrian supplies from reaching Hezbollah.
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Hezbollah responded by launching 60 rockets into Israel saying "it would continue to fire at targets across northern Israel, utilizing an arsenal of rockets that it said numbers as many as 13,000."
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Hezbollah's leader stated, "We don't want an escalation in the south, nor war," he said. "But if the Israelis want an escalation, then we are ready for a confrontation and to its furthest extent. If Israel chooses confrontation, we are ready, and it should expect surprises."
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From the WaPo:
Speaking at a news conference in Germany this morning, President Bush said Israel has the right to defend itself and declared that Syria "needs to be held to account" for supporting and harboring Hezbollah.
"If you really want the situation to settle down, the soldiers need to be returned," the president said. "My attitude is this: there are a group of terrorists who want to stop the advance of peace. Those of us who are peace loving must work together to help the agents of peace." more
I believe that Israel has the right to defend itself but this seems like an over the top response to kidnapping two soldiers to me.
What's more important is that Iran had previously stated that should Israel attack Syria Iran will attack Israel and given the fact that Syria is supplying Hezbollah the question in my mind is how literal is Iran in defining that. Would a Lusitania type incident between Syria and Israel be enough to set Iran's troops into motion? I certainly don't know.
What I do know is that given the treaties between the U.S. and Israel whenever something like this happens it's a good reason for Americans to sweat. The situation in the middle east hasn't been this volatile in a very long time.
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Update: CNN Reports that has bombed two more airports in Lebanon this morning.
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