Israel has launched a ground invasion into Lebanon
A UN peacekeeper was also killed in southern Lebanon, in an incident likely related to the border flare-up.
Briefly!
A missile fired by the Lebanese Hezbollah group struck an Israeli military convoy on Wednesday, an apparent retaliation for a deadly airstrike attributed to Israel that killed six Hezbollah fighters in Syria earlier this month.
Israel reported unspecified casualties from the attack, and its military said it responded with aerial and ground attacks into Lebanon, including at least 50 artillery shells according to Lebanese officials. A Spanish peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon, in what the United Nations said was an incident likely related to the border flare-up.Lieut. Col. Peter Lerner, an Israeli military spokesman, said there were Israeli casualties in the attack, but did not elaborate. The military said it was responding with aerial and ground strikes on Hezbollah positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would respond “forcefully.”In a statement, Hezbollah said its fighters destroyed a number of Israeli vehicles that were carrying Israeli officers and soldiers and caused casualties among “enemy ranks.”The Israeli military said an anti-tank missile hit an Israeli military vehicle near the Israeli-Lebanese border on Wednesday, and said residents of the area had been ordered to remain in their homes.An hour later, mortars were fired at several Israeli military locations on Mount Dov and Mount Hermon, the Israeli military said
Can't forget the Israeli strikes on Syria!
More on Israel's twin hits on Syria- IAF and Shelling
UPDATE # 1:
Seven IDF soldiers lightly to moderately injured -2 IDF soldiers deadLebanon's foreign ministry denounced the Israeli shelling and airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory on Wednesday, which followed an attack on Israeli soldiers, which left at least seven injured and two dead.Liberman calls for disproportionate response
UPDATE # 2:
Or were 15 IDF soldiers killed? IDF Vehicle Comes Under Fire on Lebanon Border, 15 Israeli Soldiers Killed
UPDATE #3:
Israeli artillery fire killed the UN peacekeeper (I suspected as much when reading the early reporting)
BEIRUT // A United Nations peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon on Wednesday by Israeli artillery shells.Before the (Hezbollah) attack, Israel had deployed tanks and drones along the frontier at several points
So, here is my question: Did Israel strike the area the UN peacekeeper was stationed in, to kick this whole thing off ? What is the timeline? UPDATE # 4: Spain blames Israel for death of peacekeeper
Spain's ambassador to the United Nations is blaming Israel for the death of a Spanish U.N. peacekeeper during the Israeli military's exchange of fire with the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group in a disputed border area.
"It was because of this escalation of violence, and it came from the Israeli side," Spanish Ambassador Roman Oyarzun Marchesi told reporters.
The U.N. peacekeeper has been identified as Cpl. Francisco Javier Soria Toledo, 36, and U.N. officials have said only that the cause of his death is under investigation.
The Security Council condemned the peacekeeper's death in the strongest terms and offered its deepest sympathies.
Again, I ask did Israel strike the area the UN peacekeeper was stationed in, to provoke a response from Hezbollah? The Spanish Ambassador said-" this escalation of violence came from the Israeli side"Brief but extremely relevant digression!For the Canadians and other interested readers: Israel has targeted many a UN peacekeeper, through the years, including those stationed in Lebanon- Including a Canadian! Which was hushed up dam quick by the Canadian government! 2006- Stephen(loves Israel more then Canada) Harper
Hess-von Kruedener, from Kingston, Ont.,was one of the observers killed in a bomb shelter under a building marked as a UN post.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has suggested the post was deliberately targeted.
Killed in a bomb shelter under a building marked, clearly as a UN post
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't believe Israel deliberately attacked a United Nations post in southern Lebanon in a bombing that killed four UN observers, including a Canadian."I certainly doubt that to be the case," Harper said on Wednesday
However... this man's wife/widow, made it very clear that Israel was attacking the UN post and this was corroborated by reports at the time-
Cynthia Hess-Von Krudener, widow of the dead Canadian peacekeeper asserts that Israel intended to destroy the bunker. She says that in the days prior to his death, her husband emailed her with concerns about Israeli bombing of Lebanese schools and hospitals. One of his emails speaks about Israel waging “a campaign of terror against the Lebanese people.” Ms. Hess-Von Krudener believes that Israel destroyed the UN post to silence the reports of the peacekeepers: “Obviously they [the Israelis] were unhappy with what they [the peacekeepers] were observing. Maybe that post was in the way as well. I know my husband was reporting war crimes. And I guess [the Israelis] don’t want to deal with that.”
"In a briefing note to the UN, Jane Lute,assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, said the IDF had been repeatedly firing too close to the patrol base on Tuesday."
Ireland's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that a senior Irish soldier working in south Lebanon warned the Israelis six times that they were putting the lives of UN observers in danger with their air strikes.
"On six separate occasions, he was in contact with the Israelis to warn them that their bombardment was endangering the lives of UN staff in south Lebanon," said aspokesperson forIreland's Department of Foreign Affairs
"He warned, 'You have to address this problem or lives may be lost.'"
Lives were lost. At the hands of the IDF and Canada's so called Prime Minister excused the loss of a Canadian life. This is why I ask repeatedly if Israel struck the peacekeeper as a provocation? This is Israel's modus operundi.