(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
In accordance with the decision of the political echelon the IDF is continuing with the current ground operations in southern Lebanon.
Since Friday night, hundreds of IDF troops were airlifted into southern Lebanon. During warfare over the course of the past 24 hours 19 IDF soldiers have been killed. Last night an IDF helicopter was shot down over southern Lebanon, its crew of five are missing in action and feared dead.
The IDF carried over 100 aerial attacks, targeting over 50 Hizbullah command stations and structures, two missile launchers (including a 302mil launcher, located near Adasheit), two vehicles transporting weaponry from Syria to Baalbek, 6 Hizbullah gasoline reserves, a weaponry storage facility, bunkers, bridges and access routes were targeted to prevent the smuggling of weaponry and impair the mobility of Hizbullah terrorists.
Over 40 Hizbullah terrorists were killed by IDF forces in the past 24 hours. Saturday night ground forces killed an additional 14 Hizbullah terrorists in the areas of Beit Yahun, Shema, Ghandouriyeh and Aita A-Shaeb. In Ayta A-Shaab forces uncovered and destroyed a ready-to-launch 'Fagot' missile and an 8-barrel missile launcher. In Rajamin forces destroyed a structure from which Hizbullah was firing mortar shells at the forces in the area.
Casualties
In the 24 hours before the ceasefire went into effect, 7 IDF soldiers were killed, an officer and three others were severely wounded, and over 30 other soldiers were lightly and moderately wounded:
- 2 IDF soldiers were killed, another was moderately wounded and nine soldiers were lightly wounded when an anti-tank missile hit an infantry unit in the village of Kantara.
- 1 IDF officer was killed in the village of Tel-Nahess by a mortar shell that hit his tank.
- 4 IDF soldiers were killed, and 20 others were wounded (three of them severely) in Abu Tawil, when an anti-tank missile hit an infantry force in the village.
- An officer was severely wounded and four soldiers were lightly wounded when a rocket hit an IDF post in a community in the western Galilee.
Air Force activity
The IAF carried out over 200 aerial attacks on Hizbullah targets, including:
- 11 rocket launchers, including 7 long-range rocket launchers
7 Hizbullah vehicles in southern Beirut
- An access route serving Hizbullah on the Litani river
- Over 120 structures serving Hizbullah (including 4 in the Dahiya area, 3 south of Baalbek, 2 structures and a communication center in the area of Nabatiya and other structures in the areas of Nabatiya and Marjayoun)
- 8 gas stations serving Hizbullah, including 4 south-west of Tyre
- 11 Hizbullah terrorists (9 in the area of Nabatiya, and 2 members of rocket-launching cells)
- A bridge over the Zaharani river used to transfer weapons
- 4 tunnels used by Hizbullah.
Ground Forces Activity
IDF forces continued the expanded activity across Lebanon:
- IDF forces identified a truck laden with explosives making its way to the Israeli border in the area of Metulla. Forces attacked and destroyed the truck, which was apparently on its way to carry out a bombing attack.
- In Aya A-Shaab, IDF forces uncovered a Hizbullah bunker containing weaponry and communications infrastructure.
- In the western region of southern Lebanon, IDF forces killed five Hezbollah gunmen, and uncovered a large weapons storage facility.
- Yesterday morning, reserve forces operating in the village of Ayta A-Shaab destroyed 20 structures used by Hizbullah to hide of weapons, including Sager missiles and anti-tank missiles.
- In A-Taibeh, IDF forces uncovered and destroyed missiles and launchers.
- In the area of A-Tiri, IDF forces identified two armed gunmen. The IAF attacked the house in which the two were hiding.
- In the village of Rab A-Tiltin, IDF forces uncovered a large number of weapons, including RPG launchers, anti-tank missiles, explosive devices and light weapons.
- In Randuriya, IDF forces uncovered weapons including RPG missiles, mortar shells, anti-tank missiles and light weapons. In addition forces uncovered propaganda material - video and computer equipment.
- In Aitaroun, IDF forces destroyed two rocket launchers yesterday morning. Later, the forces identified a mortar shell launching cell operating from within a house in the village, and the IAF attacked the house. Forces then identified two gunmen, which the Air Force also attacked.
- An IDF force in the village of Mis Al Jbeil identified two armed gunmen, fired at them and identified hitting them.
- IDF forces killed two armed gunmen in exchanges of fire in the village of Kharis.
More than 530 Hizbullah terrorists have been killed since July 12.