REMARKS MADE BY OC NORTHERN COMMAND MAJ. GEN AMIRAM LEVIN DURING PRESS CONFERENCE
- April 13, 1996
(Communicated by IDF Spokesman)
For the past 40 hours, we have been engaged in an operation whose sole aim
is to put an end to attacks on Israeli citizens, residents of Southern
Lebanon, and IDF and SLA personnel.
For a number of months Hizbullah has been firing Katyusha rockets
sporadically into Israel, and has also bombarded residents of Southern
Lebanon.
The State of Israel and the IDF have exercised maximal restraint, but this
has been misinterpreted by the other side.
I have warned repeatedly that this pattern of behavior must end. We must
find a way to make the other side understand that he cannot force the
citizens of Northern Israel to go underground, or attack the IDF, SLA, or
residents of Southern Lebanon, at mere whim.
We are operating against Hizbullah targets north of our lines, even in
Beirut and the Beka'a. Our principle mission is to strike at the Hizbullah
wherever we can, and hit those who fire Katyusha rockets into Israel. Let
it be clear to the other side that we shall continue the operation until
we have attained our objectives, and that such terrorist actions will
cease. The operation is proceeding as planned, with no deviations from the
goals which we had set.
In order not to harm civilians, (or to reduce such harm as much as
possible) we have warned and continue to warn the citizens of Lebanon who
are near terrorist bases and who serve as cover for terrorist fire, to
leave the area and proceed northwards. They will thus ensure their own
safety because we shall continue to strike at Hizbullah targets for as
long as the other side will fail to understand that it must put a halt to
Katyusha rocket firing now and in the future.
To my regret, it is impossible to guarantee 100% pin-point accuracy.
However, we have caused very minimal civilian casualties. I regret all
such casualties. However, all individuals who were wounded were located in
the vicinity of terrorist Katyusha launching sites and terrorist bases and
at times even next to Katyusha rocket positions.