Israel strikes southern Lebanon, say local sources
Feb 3, 2013 18:01:26 GMT -5
Post by schwartzie on Feb 3, 2013 18:01:26 GMT -5
Israel strikes southern Lebanon, say local sources
Electrical broadcast tower reportedly hit; Hezbollah seals off area
By Yoel Goldman and AP February 4, 2013, 12:18 am 1
Lebanese media outlets reported that the Israeli Air Force struck targets in the southern part of the country late Sunday, following days of reported “mock raids” by Israel.
Several outlets reported that an electrical broadcast tower was hit. Lebanon’s FutureTV said the explosion was heard at approximately 10:30 PM local time in the area of Al-Fuar, near the coastal city of Tyre.
The Shi’ite terror group Hezbollah, whose stronghold is in southern Lebanon, sealed off access to the area, according to the report.
The Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television station reported that it was the country’s anti-aircraft system which first detected Israeli aircraft entering Lebanese airspace.
Israel had no official comment on the reports.
Earlier Sunday, in his first comments since an airstrike reportedly carried out by Israel targeted his country, President Bashar Assad on Sunday said Syria’s military was capable of confronting any “aggression.”
In the aftermath of that alleged attack early Wednesday, Syria said the target was a scientific research center, while US officials indicated that the strike had destroyed a convoy of anti-aircraft weapons bound for Hezbollah.
Syrian state television said Assad spoke during a meeting with visiting top Iranian official Saeed Jalili.
On Sunday morning, Defense Minister Ehud Barak hinted that Israel was involved in last week’s strike. Barak said Israel was adamant that advanced weapons systems should not be allowed to reach Lebanon from Syria.
Israel has not commented directly on the strike, but in the days ahead of the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials repeatedly warned of the dangers of Syrian weapons falling into the hands of Hezbollah and other hostile elements in the region.
www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-strike-in-southern-lebanon-say-local-sources/