ISRAEL: Violence continues to flare in region as Israel considers expanding war

Israel's security cabinet convened on Wednesday (August 9) to consider whether to send troops deeper into Lebanon to fight Hizbollah guerrillas, as diplomats at the United Nations argued over a resolution that might end the war. Overnight Israeli soldiers skirmished with Hizbollah guerillas near the border while planes struck south and east Lebanon. Night vision pictures showed Israeli artillery pounding positions over the border in Lebanon. On Tuesday evening, (August 8), troops and vehicles aligned along the border preparing for the advance. On Wednesday, near the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, heavy Israeli fire continued to cross into Lebanon. The town is situated in the north-eastern corner of Israel and has suffered the largest amount of rocket attacks since July 12 when Israel's conflict with Hizbollah began. A deeper Israeli advance into Lebanon is expected to step up pressure for a deal on terms that suit Israel and its ally Washington. In a possible sign of preparations for a bigger operation, a new top Israeli commander was named on Tuesday. But the Haaretz daily newspaper said Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert was not convinced it made sense to press deeper into Lebanon given the risk of heavier casualties. Lebanon announced on Monday (August 7) it was sending 15,000 troops to the south, which has been dominated by Hizbollah since Israel ended a 22-year occupation in 2000. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Dan Gillerman said the critical test faced by the Security Council was not adopting a resolution, but making a decision that would "end the threat that Hizbollah and its sponsors pose to Israel and Lebanon". About 1,000 Lebanese and more than 100 Israelis have been killed in four weeks of bloodshed.

ITN Source | August 10, 2006

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