LEBANON: Israeli air raids continue to strike Hizbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon as British are evacuated

Israeli air raids struck at Hizbollah-controlled areas of Lebanon on Thursday (July 20), the ninth day of a bombardment that has killed more than 300 people, as a token force of U.S. Marines landed to help evacuate Americans. Israel, which has bombed roads, bridges, ports, airports and factories across Lebanon, is under pressure not to endanger escape routes for the foreigners pouring out by land and sea. Instead, its aircraft struck mostly at Shi'ite strongholds in the eastern towns of Baalbek and Hermel, the southern Beirut area of Bir al-Abed and Khiam in southern Lebanon. In Tyre, roads were empty as many chose to flee the bombardments or seek shelter. Meanwhile, thousands of British nationals are being evacuated from Lebanon in a massive air and sea operation. The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious has been ferrying British citizens from Beirut to Cyprus. "They are starting to run out of some foods in the supermarkets. The fresh milk is all gone. Now they are rationing things in the pharmacy and you can't always find every medicine you need," said one woman on board the aircraft carrier. Israel launched its offensive after Hizbollah captured two soldiers and killed eight in a cross-border raid on July 12. It has rejected the guerrilla group's proposal for a prisoner swap. Israel's strikes in Lebanon has coincided with a major push into the Gaza Strip to retrieve another soldier, seized by Palestinian gunmen on June 25 and stop cross-border rocket fire.

ITN Source | July 21, 2006

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