RDRutherford

Today: Wednesday August 09, 2006

More than 40 Lebanese civilians killed at village of Houla, Siniora

Lebanon-Attack-Houla Village
More than 40 people were killed Monday in an Israeli attack on five residential buildings on the border village of Houla, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said.
He told the emergency meeting of foreign ministers of League of Arab States that Lebanon expects the fellow Arab states to help a nation “stunned” by a devastating Israeli onslaught since July 12 that has targeted civilians and infrastructure.

Siniora disclosed the attack in the village, where heavy ground fighting between Lebanese defense forces and Israel has been raging in recent days.

“An hour ago, there was a horrific massacre in the village of Houla in which more than 40 martyrs were victims of deliberate bombing on residential buildings,” he said.

Siniora said: “If these horrific actions are not state terrorism then what is state terrorism?”
He denounced Israeli action as taking revenge from Lebanese nation.

1416/1416

—> Lebanon-Attack-Houla Village

http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0608074154182337.htm

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)
Naqoura,
21 July 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Heavy exchanges of fire continued along the length of the Blue Line in the last 24 hours, with somewhat reduced intensity in the eastern sector. Hezbollah fired rockets from various locations, and the IDF continued the shelling and aerial bombardment of the south. The IDF and Hezbollah are engaged in exchanges on the ground inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras in the central sector, and Marwahin in the western sector. The IDF is present in these two areas since 19 July. There were also intensive cross border exchanges in the area of Alma Ash Shab close to the Mediterranean cost yesterday evening.
There were seven incidents of firing close to UN positions during the past 24 hours, with three positions suffering direct hits from the Israeli side. Three artillery shells impacted on the building inside the patrol base of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) in the Marun Al Ras area, causing extensive damage to the buildings and vehicles, but with no casualties. Four artillery shells also hit this position a day earlier. There are 34 civilians from the village of Marun Al Ras inside the position. One artillery shell impacted inside the UNIFIL Headquarters compound in Naqoura yesterday evening, and one impacted inside a Ghanaian battalion position in the area of the village of Marwahin this morning. No casualties were reported, but there was material damage. UN equipment and vehicles were also damaged by splinters in the Ghanaian battalion position in the area of At Tiri in the central sector, and in the patrol base of the OGL in the Khiyam area in the eastern sector. All UNIFIL position in the area of operation remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. UNIFIL is still facing serious restrictions in its freedom of movement due to the ongoing hostilities and extensive destruction of roads and bridges throughout the area of operation. UNIFIL was able to re-supply a number of its positions yesterday. All UN positions in the close proximity of the Blue Line are facing shortages of basic supplies, and our ability to re-supply them is vital. The re-supply of the forward positions along the Blue Line is planned for today. UNIFIL provided humanitarian escort from Naqoura to Tyre for the local civilians. UNIFIL also carried out a medical evacuation from Naqoura to the hospital in Tyre of a child who was operated on in the UNIFIL hospital. There are reports of concentration of local civilian population displaced from the border areas in towns further north in the area. At present, there are around 2500 in Kleyaa, over 1000 in Hasbaya, 1000 in Tibnin, some 700 in Ain Quenia, as well as in Marjayoun, El Mari, Rmeich, Bint Jubayil, Deir Mimmes, and Ebl El Saqi. Some humanitarian convoys are planned for today, but the ability to move will depend on the situation on the ground. Families of UNIFIL staff and a limited number of non-essential civilian staff located in Tyre were evacuated from the country yesterday to Cyprus by sea as part of the 950 persons boarded on the “Serenade” boat. All UNIFIL troops, military observers of the Observer Group Lebanon, and essential civilian staff remain on duty.

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)
Naqoura,
24 July 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Heavy exchanges of fire continued along the length of the Blue Line in the last 24 hours, with somewhat reduced intensity in the eastern sector. Hezbollah fired rockets from various locations, and the IDF continued the shelling and aerial bombardment. The IDF maintained its presence on the ground inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras in the central sector, and somewhat advanced north of the village in the direction of Bint Jubayl. Their presence in this area was significantly reinforced during the night and this morning with a number of tanks and armored personnel carriers. Exchanges of fire were reported in the same area yesterday afternoon and this morning. One unarmed UN military observer, a member of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL), was seriously wounded by small arms fire in the patrol base in the Marun Al Ras area yesterday afternoon. According to preliminary reports, the fire originated from the Hezbollah side during an exchange with the IDF. He was evacuated by the UN to the Israeli side, from where he was taken by an IDF ambulance helicopter to a hospital in Haifa. He was operated on, and his condition is now reported as stable There were nine other incidents of firing close to UN positions during the past 24 hours, with two positions suffering direct hits from the Israeli side. Two aerial bombs impacted inside the Ghanaian battalion headquarters in the area of Tibnin, and three mortar rounds impacted inside an Indian battalion position in the Adaisseh area, causing extensive damage to the buildings and vehicles in both cases, but no casualties. Four aerial bombs impacted in the immediate vicinity of a Ghanaian position in the area of Brashit, and eleven tank rounds impacted in the immediate vicinity of a Ghanaian battalion position in the Rmaich area causing significant material damage. All UNIFIL positions in the area of operation remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. A number of positions, including forward positions in the eastern sector, were re-supplied yesterday. Some additional re-supply convoys to the forward positions are planned for today. UNIFIL is still facing serious restrictions in its freedom of movement due to the ongoing hostilities and extensive destruction of roads and bridges throughout the area of operation. A key road artery between Tyre and Naqoura has been heavily bombed, and traffic along this road is not possible at the moment. UNIFIL Engineering Contingent is attempting to make some repairs and open the road for traffic today. UNIFIL carried out a medical evacuation of one person from Alma Ash Shab to the UNIFIL hospital in Naqoura, yesterday. Four wounded civilians from Shihin were also evacuated early today to the UNIFIL hospital in Naqoura. Some local civilians from the village of El Mari were evacuated today by UNIFIL to Ibil as Saqi, and bread was distributed to the inhabitants of Al Jibbayn. UNIFIL attempted to escort trucks with humanitarian assistance provided by CARITAS from Hasbayya to Rmaich, but the condition of the road south of Hasbayya was impassable for heavy trucks. UNIFIL is dispatching medical teams and aid to the eastern sector today.

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)
Naqoura,
27 July 2006
Heavy exchanges of fire continued with the same intensity along the length of the Blue Line in the past 24 hours. Hezbollah continued to fire rockets from various locations, and the IDF continued intensive shelling and aerial bombardment of the south. The IDF has maintained their presence inside Lebanese territory in the area of Marun Al Ras, Bint Jubayl and Yarun in the central sector. Intensive fighting in these areas, as well as the shelling of the area of Aytarun, and the aerial bombardment of the areas of At Tiri and Brashit north of Bint Jubayl was reported yesterday. This morning, sporadic fighting was reported in Bint Jubayl and Marun Al Ras, and intensive shelling of the area of At Tiri. There are a number of civilians who are still stranded in these towns and caught in the crossfire. There were three incidents of firing close to UN positions in the last 24 hours from the Israeli side. It was also reported that Hezbollah fired from the vicinity of four UN positions at Marwahin, Alma Ash Shab, Brashit, and At Tiri. The UNIFIL Engineering Contingent from China successfully disposed of one mortar bomb inside the Ghanaian battalion position, in the area of Marwahin. All UNIFIL positions in the area of operation remain permanently occupied and maintained by the troops. A number of positions were resupplied yesterday, and additional supply convoys to forward positions are planned for today. UNIFIL suspended last night a search operation to recover the mortal remains of the military observers killed in aerial bombardment on 25 July at the patrol base of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) in Khiyam. Heavy engineering equipment is required to resume the search for the fourth observer. Over 600 civilians from Naqoura, Alma Ash Shab, and other neighboring villages were sheltered inside the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura yesterday, and provided with food and water. UNIFIL also provided humanitarian escorts to a group of 250 of them yesterday from Naqoura to Tyre, and to another group of around 300 this morning. Around 100 civilians still remain in the UNIFIL compound. The ICRC distributed this morning some food to UNIFIL in Naqoura for the remaining group. UNIFIL hospital in Naqoura provided treatment for 39 civilians. Approximately 1000 local civilians from Alma Ash Shab, Al Bustan, Yarin, Al Duharya, and other neighboring villages, were sheltered inside a UNIFIL position of the Ghanaian battalion in the area of Al Duharya at noon yesterday. Around 670 of them left the position for Tyre later in the afternoon. A group of 330 remained inside the position, and UNIFIL will attempt to provide a humanitarian escort and transportation for them to Tyre today. There were other reports of convoys of civilian cars moving from these areas in the direction of Tyre. UNIFIL evacuated some 176 UN dependents and foreign nationals from the country on board a French ship which delivered supplies to UNIFIL in Naqoura yesterday.

A picture worth a thousand words:

Jed Babbin explains: “The U.N.’s years-long record on the Israel-Lebanon border makes mockery of the term “peacekeeping.” On page 155 of my book, “Inside the Asylum,” is a picture of a U.N. outpost on that border. The U.N. flag and the Hezbollah flag fly side by side. Observers told me the U.N. and Hezbollah personnel share water and telephones, and that the U.N. presence serves as a shield against Israeli strikes against the terrorists.”

Hat tip: Kate at Small Dead Animals

Hizballah Firing from Vicinity of UN Positions

There’s an amazing amount of press coverage of Israel’s airstrike on a UN observer post yesterday, but today’s UNIFIL press release (PDF) contains some information you aren’t hearing about on the nightly news.

Another UN position of the Ghanaian battalion in the area of Marwahin in the western sector was also directly hit by one mortar round from the Hezbollah side last night. The round did not explode, and there were no casualties or material damage. Another 5 incidents of firing close to UN positions from the Israeli side were reported yesterday. It was also reported that Hezbollah fired from the vicinity of four UN positions at Alma ash Shab, Tibnin, Brashit, and At Tiri. All UNIFIL positions remain occupied and maintained by the troops.

Links:

http://www.imra.org.il/

http://neo-neocon.blogspot.com/2006/07/disarming-hezbollah-either-way.html

http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001203.html

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/why_the_un_post_was_bombed/

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unifil/

UNITED NATIONS INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
(UNIFIL)
Naqoura,
26 July 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Yesterday evening at 19:30, at least one aerial bomb impacted directly on the building inside the patrol base of the Observer Group Lebanon (OGL) in the area of Khiyam in the eastern sector. The three-story building and the position were entirely destroyed. At the time, there were 4 unarmed military observers in the position from different nationalities. A UNIFIL rescue team was immediately dispatched to the location, and is still trying to clear the rubble. They retrieved the bodies of three observers, and are searching for the fourth, who is also feared dead. The Secretary General of the United Nations gave a statement last night in Rome concerning this incident. Prior to this incident, very intensive aerial bombardment and shelling from the Israeli side was reported in the area of Khiyam, and there were 14 prior incidents of firing close to this position by aerial bombs and artillery shells. At 18:30, four artillery shells fired from the Israeli side directly impacted inside the position, causing extensive damage on the building and the shelter. UNIFIL Force Commander was in repeated contact with Israeli Army officers throughout the afternoon, pressing the need to protect that particular UN position from firing.Another UN position of the Ghanaian battalion in the area of Marwahin in the western sector was also directly hit by one mortar round from the Hezbollah side last night. The round did not explode, and there were no casualties or material damage. Another 5 incidents of firing close to UN positions from the Israeli side were reported yesterday. It was also reported that Hezbollah fired from the vicinity of four UN positions at Alma ash Shab, Tibnin, Brashit, and At Tiri. All UNIFIL positions remain occupied and maintained by the troops. This morning, the UNIFIL Engineering Contingent finally managed to retrieve the bodies of a UNIFIL international civilian staff member and his wife. They were buried under the rubble of the building which was completely destroyed during the air bombardment of the area of Hosh in Tyre on 17 July.(Since the outbreak of hostilities, four military observers from OGL, one UNIFIL international staff member and his wife were killed, and four Ghanaian soldiers, one Indian soldier, and one OGL military observer were wounded as a result of firing.)Heavy exchanges of fire continued along the length of the Blue Line in thelast 24 hours, with a major concentration in Khiyam, Bint Jubayl, At Tiri and Ayn Ibil areas. Hezbollah fired rockets from various locations and the IDF continued the shelling and aerial bombardment. The IDF has maintained their presence in the area of Marun Al Ras, Bint Jubayl and Yarun in the central sector, inside Lebanese territory. Sporadic fighting was reported in Bint Jubayl, Marun Al Ras, and Yarun yesterday afternoon. There are reports of intensive fighting on the ground in the area of Aytarun, north east of Marun Al Ras, this morning. There are a number of civilians who are still stranded in these three towns and caught in the cross fire. UNIFIL also received reports that a convoy of vehicles was attempting to leave Bint Jubayl northwards in the direction of Tibnin. A French ship, which arrived to the waters of Naqoura yesterday morning, continued to deliver a critical supply of water, fuel and food to UNIFIL. The ship is also to evacuate a number of UN dependants and foreign nationals who were extricated from the border areas by UNIFIL. Sixty eight UN dependents and foreign nationals boarded the ship for evacuation yesterday. Today, UNIFIL provided escorts for another 120 UN dependents and foreign nationals from Rmaich and the neighboring villages to Naqoura for evacuation with the ship. UNIFIL conducted one medevac, four humanitarian, and three re-supply convoys yesterday. One Lebanese Army soldier was medically evacuated from a UN position in Ras Naqoura to the UNIFIL Naqoura hospital. One wounded soldier of the Lebanese Joint Security Forces was medically evacuated by UNIFIL from Ramyah to the hospital in Tibnin. Yesterday, the IDF handed over to UNIFIL two Lebanese civilians who were caught in the cross fire in the border area. This move was coordinated with the Lebanese authorities. UNIFIL handed them over to the Lebanese authorities today.