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[Gus]

Artillery falls silent just as the truce starts, and Israeli forces march south. The military says it will continue its blockade of Lebanon.
By Henry Chu and Borzou Daragahi

BEIRUT — By air and on land, Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters battled fiercely Sunday in a last-minute surge of bloodletting before an official cease-fire went into effect this morning.

Plumes of smoke rose above the hills of the Lebanese port city of Tyre, and sirens warning of incoming rockets sounded across northern Israel minutes before the truce commenced at 8 a.m. Israeli airstrikes hit the town of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley and also targeted the Shiite town of Keyfoun, southeast of Beirut — which had not been hit previously — right up to the deadline, Lebanese media reported.

Along the Israel-Lebanon border, however, artillery appeared to fall silent for at least the first hour of the cease-fire.

The Israeli military said it would maintain its air and sea blockade of Lebanon to stop arms smuggling. Warplanes dropped leaflets in Tyre warning of retaliation if Hezbollah continued its rocket attacks.

Israeli tanks, armored vehicles and about 400 Israeli soldiers, many of them reservists, marched back into Israel about 6 a.m., carrying Hezbollah and Lebanese flags. The men, looking happy and relieved, were loaded onto pickup trucks on the Israeli side of the border near the town of Misgav Am.

The last-minute violence came amid signs of potentially serious snags in the Lebanese government's implementation of the U.N.-brokered truce. On Sunday afternoon, after sharp debate, the Israeli Cabinet formally approved the United Nations resolution calling for a cease-fire.

Throughout the day and into the night, Israeli warplanes and gunboats hammered southern Lebanon, leveling buildings and bombing other infrastructure around Tyre. In south Beirut, just outside Hezbollah-controlled suburbs, 20 explosions in three minutes destroyed a complex of shops, apartments and offices.

At least 22 people were reported killed in the various strikes.

Hezbollah guerrillas unleashed more than 220 rockets on northern Israel, one of the highest counts of the monthlong conflict. Several landed in Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, where billows of black smoke rolled through blue sky. One person died in the daylong barrage.

The intensified fighting capped a weekend of some of the fiercest clashes in nearly five weeks of confrontation, after Israel widened its ground offensive in an eleventh-hour bid to clear out more Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon before the cease-fire.

Seven Israeli soldiers were killed and several dozen wounded Sunday, adding to a death toll of 24 on Saturday, the heaviest loss the military has suffered on a single day since the fighting began July 12. The two dozen dead included five soldiers aboard a helicopter that was shot down and the 20-year-old son of author David Grossman, one of Israel's most prominent peace activists.

Israel says it has killed more than 500 Hezbollah militants, a figure the Shiite Muslim faction denies. The group has so far acknowledged the deaths of about 60 fighters.


Firefighters extinguish flames engulfing burning cars at the scene of a Hezbollah rocket attack in the northern Israel city of Haifa Sunday Aug. 13, 2006. Hezbollah fired more than 250 rockets into Israel on Sunday, the worst barrage against northern Israel since the fighting began more than a month ago, the army said. The rockets killed one Israeli during the day.(AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Under the U.N. resolution, both sides were to halt attacks this morning, although Israel is allowed to defend its positions.

But troubling signs emerged Sunday as to how Lebanon, Hezbollah and Israel would interpret and implement the agreement, raising the possibility of a continuation of major fighting.

Amid internal feuding, the Lebanese Cabinet postponed a meeting to vote on implementing the cease-fire.

Although officials were reluctant to publicly describe the disagreements, a rift appeared to be developing over the disarmament of Hezbollah, which the resolution demands.

Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat told Lebanese television that the Cabinet had given itself 48 hours to discuss how it would enact the cease-fire's terms.

"We don't want to move more quickly than events," said Michel Pharaon, minister of parliamentary affairs, who represents Lebanon's small Catholic minority. "Why should we hurry if the Israelis keep bombing us with such ferocity? This is a sensitive issue that will take time to work out."

Although Hezbollah is obligated to stop military operations and lay down its weapons, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the organization's leader, has warned that his fighters will continue their campaign against Israeli soldiers as long as the Jewish state maintains troops in Lebanon.

Israel, in turn, contends that its right to defensive action includes preventing efforts by Hezbollah to rearm, at least until the installation of a 15,000-strong international peacekeeping force, along with 15,000 Lebanese troops.

Under the truce, Israeli troops, believed to number about 30,000, will leave the south only as those forces move in, which is days or weeks away.

"There has to be a total and complete arms embargo on Hezbollah. So arms transportations for Hezbollah are a violation of the cease-fire," said Mark Regev, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry. "We will be entitled to act."

Regev did not specify what kind of action would be authorized, but Reuters news service quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying it could include airstrikes on convoys suspected of carrying weapons to Hezbollah anywhere in Lebanese territory.

Skirmishes are therefore expected to continue despite the official cease-fire. The hope is that large-scale operations will be suspended.

Observers fear that ongoing clashes could push back the arrival of the multinational force, which would then fuel a cycle of more violence and further delays. Optimistically, the international mediators should arrive in seven to 10 days; countries potentially contributing to the force include France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia.

"The coming days are days of uncertainty," said Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz, the head of Israeli ground forces.

Both Israel and Hezbollah insist that they will abide by the cease-fire agreement, but they used the lead-up to the truce to pound each other and to cement their positions.

Among the targets pummeled by Israeli aircraft Sunday were gas stations around Tyre, as well as a number of factories in central and southern Lebanon, including a biscuit and candy factory in the mountains east of Beirut, Lebanese radio reported. Israeli gunboats also shelled the coastal road north of the southern city of Sidon and around the town of Nabatiyeh.

The afternoon barrage of explosions in Beirut destroyed the 10-building Imam Hassan residential and commercial complex in the Rumaish district, which lies outside the Hezbollah-controlled zone of the capital's southern suburbs.

At least seven people were reported killed.

"I was sleeping. When I woke up, all the buildings behind us had fallen down," said Yussef Hatoum, 63, who lives near the bombing scene. "It was really terrifying. It was like a horror movie."

Wide swaths of northern Israel were on constant alert for rockets as the wail of sirens sent thousands of battle-weary residents scrambling for safety in shelters and fortified rooms.

On Saturday, the military expressed optimism that its newly expanded ground offensive had reduced the threat of rockets, because the 65 Katyushas that landed in Israel represented one of the lowest tallies of the war. But on Sunday, the number shot beyond 220, with one of them crashing into a house near the town of Shlomi and killing an elderly man inside.

Israeli armor and troops continued moving across the border into Lebanon even as the Cabinet met in Jerusalem to vote on the cease-fire resolution.

The final vote was 24-0 in favor, with one abstention and plenty of heated debate, media reports said.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whose handling of the war has come under increasing criticism for its shifting objectives and perceived indecision, characterized the resolution as a victory for Israel.

He said that establishment of a robust international force and the disarming of Hezbollah would deprive the militant group of the ability to act in Lebanon as a state within a state.

"If implemented, [the resolution] will result in a significant change in the rules of the game in Lebanon and Israel's relationship with Lebanon," said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "Not every resolution is implemented; I am aware of the difficulties.

"But having said this, however, I can say that the Security Council resolution is good for Israel."

Eli Yishai, another minister, demanded that Israeli forces be hard-nosed in defending their positions.

"One thing must be clear: Any village from which a stone is thrown will itself be reduced to a pile of stones," he said. "And if a Katyusha is fired at Israel, Lebanon's infrastructure must be hit harshly because Lebanon allows Hezbollah to act."

Others criticized the ramped-up offensive on the eve of the cease-fire, questioning what could be achieved militarily in such a short time beyond a public-relations victory showing troops reaching the geographically strategic Litani River.

There have already been calls for Olmert to resign and talk of establishing an inquiry into the way he and his defense minister, Amir Peretz, have prosecuted the war.

Some opposition politicians and military leaders say a major ground offensive should have been launched in the early days of fighting.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-mideast14aug14,1,7415159,full.story?coll=la-headlines-frontpage&ctrack=1&cset=true

[No2wookie]

I don't care what anyone says, Colbert is still the funniest dude on comedy central.

Oh, on topic? Hurray for no more guns going off, too bad it didn't last 24 hours.

[jeechoscopy]

Kevin Zeese wrote: The dividing line between peace candidates and pro war candidates is no longer opposition to the Iraq War. It is whether they oppose the premeditated destruction of Lebanon and a military attack on Iran


Aljazeera.com wrote:
IDFBeirut

Only hours after the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned of a "fragile" situation on the ground, Israeli Special Forces launched fresh raids inside Lebanon, claiming the operation is aimed at disrupting arms supplies to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah from Syria and Iran, the Israeli army said.
Is it really nonstop?

[Alula]

All that I see is two pictures and that they were disrupting armorment movements what is your point? Hezbollah, they were saying cannot acheive State status within the State of Lebanon or Country. That is what probably classifies them as rebel's.

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Kevin Zeese wrote: The dividing line between peace candidates and pro war candidates is no longer opposition to the Iraq War. It is whether they oppose the premeditated destruction of Lebanon and a military attack on Iran


Aljazeera.com wrote:
IDFBeirut

Only hours after the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned of a "fragile" situation on the ground, Israeli Special Forces launched fresh raids inside Lebanon, claiming the operation is aimed at disrupting arms supplies to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah from Syria and Iran, the Israeli army said.
Is it really nonstop?

I wonder if that's the doctored version of the picture...

[No2wookie]

Every photograph everywhere is doctored in some way. Be more specific.

[Kane]

No2wookie wrote: Every photograph everywhere is doctored in some way. Be more specific.

Mmmmk...

Reuters

[jeechoscopy]

Alila wrote: All that I see is two pictures and that they were disrupting armorment movements what is your point? Hezbollah, they were saying cannot acheive State status within the State of Lebanon or Country. That is what probably classifies them as rebel's.

It's clear. My point is that a passion for wars after wars again and again is shown by the WARRIORS. And that, listing the names of enemies and planning to persuade them, sounds no lasting.
What kind of Middle East they (America and Israel) want to see?
Destructed and occupied by Americael?

Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kevin Zeese wrote: The dividing line between peace candidates and pro war candidates is no longer opposition to the Iraq War. It is whether they oppose the premeditated destruction of Lebanon and a military attack on Iran


Aljazeera.com wrote:
IDFBeirut

Only hours after the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned of a "fragile" situation on the ground, Israeli Special Forces launched fresh raids inside Lebanon, claiming the operation is aimed at disrupting arms supplies to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah from Syria and Iran, the Israeli army said.
Is it really nonstop?

I wonder if that's the doctored version of the picture...
This photo-story is quite understandable unlike WTC's fall.

Sorry, to be blunt!!!

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Alila wrote: All that I see is two pictures and that they were disrupting armorment movements what is your point? Hezbollah, they were saying cannot acheive State status within the State of Lebanon or Country. That is what probably classifies them as rebel's.

It's clear. My point is that a passion for wars after wars again and again is shown by the WARRIORS. And that, listing the names of enemies and planning to persuade them, sounds no lasting.
What kind of Middle East they (America and Israel) want to see?
Destructed and occupied by Americael?

Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kevin Zeese wrote: The dividing line between peace candidates and pro war candidates is no longer opposition to the Iraq War. It is whether they oppose the premeditated destruction of Lebanon and a military attack on Iran


Aljazeera.com wrote:
IDFBeirut

Only hours after the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned of a "fragile" situation on the ground, Israeli Special Forces launched fresh raids inside Lebanon, claiming the operation is aimed at disrupting arms supplies to the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah from Syria and Iran, the Israeli army said.
Is it really nonstop?

I wonder if that's the doctored version of the picture...
This photo-story is quite understandable unlike WTC's fall.

Sorry, to be blunt!!!

:gdgf:

Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

[jeechoscopy]

Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in wastebin. It might benefitial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in wastebin. It might benefitial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Wastebin."

[jeechoscopy]

Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

I know how conspiracies work...

Here, lets do this then: Show me why your conspiracy theory isn't one at all.

[jeechoscopy]

Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

I know how conspiracies work...

Here, lets do this then: Show me why your conspiracy theory isn't one at all.
Conspiracy theories consist a cause, and cause has to have some plannings. We are not that planned, at all.

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

I know how conspiracies work...

Here, lets do this then: Show me why your conspiracy theory isn't one at all.
Conspiracy theories consist a cause, and cause has to have some plannings. We are not that planned, at all.

Cause has to have some plannings...? No it doesn't...

Kids getting killed because they invaded others turf, got a PS2, or just plain looked at them wrong? I'd say there are more killings without cause...

[tlax114]

Israel will never stop. Of course we are not hearing the full story, for we are Israel's best ally (according to CNN). Has anyone seen the numbers. I mean the civilian casualties for Lebanon is almost in the 5 (10,000) digits, while Israel is in the 2 (10-99) digit range.... Of course Israel only invaded Lebanon because they kidnapped a few Israeli soliders. I mean don't mind the 1000s of Lebanese prisoners you have. Propaganda please? Sorry, if my post is a little of topic :P. I kind of get carried away, when I see what's going on in Lebanon.

[jeechoscopy]

Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

I know how conspiracies work...

Here, lets do this then: Show me why your conspiracy theory isn't one at all.
Conspiracy theories consist a cause, and cause has to have some plannings. We are not that planned, at all.

Cause has to have some plannings...? No it doesn't...

Kids getting killed because they invaded others turf, got a PS2, or just plain looked at them wrong? I'd say there are more killings without cause...

What was the cause behind 100,000 cluster bombs dropped at civilians in Lebanon? What was the cause behind invading Iraq? What was the cause behind Afghanistan? Do you still say, "there are more killings without a cause?"

Did Israel succeeded in pursuing Hezbollah? Did Israel's obedient America get any success for Iraq's sovereignty or pursuing Osama in Afghanistan? Still, there are more killings without a cause?

Those event are only to spread aggression as to creating more reasons to attack more. These events only transformed radicals into terrorists. My point is to drag you think and see the whole story. Looking at an event considering them unconnected with others will teach you how to hate Islam. And I don't want one hate a religion. It'll be a huge loss of the humanity.

I must say that cease fire in Lebanon/Israel is not the end of the cause; it still, remains to appease Americaelian cause, no matter how much it has to pay.

[No2wookie]

There's a difference between killing without cause and killing without success.

[Kane]

jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: jeechoscopy wrote: Kane wrote: Keep it in the conspiracy theory room.

Conspiracy theories have never always, been in waste-bin. It might beneficial to someone.
Thousands of people are prisoners due to "that benefit of doubt."

Yes, but we're veering completely too far off the intended bearing of this thread.

And I never conceded that conspiracy theories are in the "Waste-bin."

Today's world has thousands of directions to see it from, but I'm still to the point. Israel/Lebanon conflict is one edge of the chain of events; the other is invasions into Islamic countries, and it is obviously, a political campaign for the Greater Israel. See, how conspiracies work.

I know how conspiracies work...

Here, lets do this then: Show me why your conspiracy theory isn't one at all.
Conspiracy theories consist a cause, and cause has to have some plannings. We are not that planned, at all.

Cause has to have some plannings...? No it doesn't...

Kids getting killed because they invaded others turf, got a PS2, or just plain looked at them wrong? I'd say there are more killings without cause...

What was the cause behind 100,000 cluster bombs dropped at civilians in Lebanon?

A war raging between two countries.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
What was the cause behind invading Iraq?

Lack of intelligence, a weak administration, a widely perceived threat that was actually non-existent...etc.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
What was the cause behind Afghanistan?

The attack on the WTC.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
Do you still say, "there are more killings without a cause?"

Yes.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
Did Israel succeeded in pursuing Hezbollah?

Nope.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
Did Israel's obedient America get any success for Iraq's sovereignty or pursuing Osama in Afghanistan?

Nope.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
Still, there are more killings without a cause?

Yep.

Jeechosocopy wrote:
Those event are only to spread aggression as to creating more reasons to attack more. These events only transformed radicals into terrorists. My point is to drag you think and see the whole story. Looking at an event considering them unconnected with others will teach you how to hate Islam. And I don't want one hate a religion. It'll be a huge loss of the humanity.

I don't hate Islam. In fact, many don't. I do look at the events as a whole...but I don't view it as a means to perpetuate hate against Muslims. If anything, it's having the opposite effect.

Jeechoxocopy wrote:
I must say that cease fire in Lebanon/Israel is not the end of the cause; it still, remains to appease Americaelian cause, no matter how much it has to pay.

See above.

[No2wookie]

Quote: Lack of intelligence, a weak administration, a widely perceived threat that was actually non-existent...etc.

Good to see you're still going off of 1 year old information.