(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
In IDF operations carried out in the past 24 hours, aimed to destroy Hizbullah infrastructure in Lebanon, four IDF soldiers were killed.
Early yesterday morning, August 3, 2006, Hizbullah fired an anti-tank missile at an IDF force operating in the village of Rajmin, north of the Israeli community Zarit, killing two soldiers and severely wounding two more. One of those wounded died of his wounds in the hospital. The IDF is operating in the area if the village in order to destroy Hizbullah front-line infrastructure, after scores of rockets were launched at Israel in the past few weeks from this area.
The names of the three soldiers killed are: Sergeant Andrei Brudner, 18, Sergeant Itamar Zur, 19, and Sergeant Alon Feintuch, 19.
Another soldier, Sergeant Yonatan Sharabi, 20, was killed in the area of the village Al-Taibeh, west of the Israeli city of Metulla, also by an anti- tank missile launched at the forces.
Since the beginning of the operation in the village of Al-Taibeh, IDF forces uncovered a large amount of weaponry including: anti-tank missiles, RPGs, explosive devices, a rocket launcher directed at Israel and intelligence information.
Overnight the IDF carried out a number of aerial attacks, among them:
- Hizbullah infrastructure in the area of the Dahia neighborhood in southern Beirut. The attacks included targeting structures and offices used by Hizbullah, as well as a house belonging to a senior Hezbollah terrorist.
- An office used by the Hamas in the Dahia neighborhood in southern Beirut.
- A bunker used by Hizbullah to store weaponry in Beirut. The bunker was concealed under a soccer stadium.
- Several structures in the Uzai harbor in Beirut, used by Hizbullah.
- A rocket launcher and an anti-tank launcher.
- Approximately 30 targets aimed to disrupt Hizbullah's ability to launch rockets at Israel.
More than 210 rockets hit Israel in the past 24 hours, in dozens of Israeli communities, killing eight Israeli civilians. A total of more than 2,300 rockets have hit Israel since July 12.
Three IDF soldiers killed, two seriously wounded in IDF operations in southern Lebanon
Two IDF soldiers and an IDF officer were killed, and two others were seriously wounded in IDF operations against Hizbullah in southern Lebanon today.
In the village of Markabeh, Hizbullah gunmen fired anti-tank missiles at IDF forces, killing two soldiers and an officer, and seriously wounding another officer. Forces are operating against Hizbullah terror infrastructure in the area, which has been used to fire rockets into Israel in the past few weeks. Since entering the village, IDF forces have uncovered a weapons storage warehouse which contained anti-tank missiles, intelligence data and additional weapons.
Following the incident, exchanges of fire developed in the area, during which forces identified hitting seven Hizbullah gunmen and destroyed one of the gunmen's vehicles. The wounded soldiers were taken to hospitals, and the families of the killed and wounded soldiers were notified.
In the village of A-Taibeh, an IDF soldier was seriously wounded and another soldier was lightly wounded by Hizbullah anti-tank missiles. Forces are operating against Hizbullah terror infrastructure in the area, which has also been used to fire rockets into Israel in the past few weeks.
During the night, IDF forces identified hitting five Hizbullah gunmen in exchanges of fire in the village. Forces also destroyed a weapons storage warehouse and neutralized a rocket launcher in the village. Since entering the village, over 20 Hizbullah terrorists have been killed in exchanges of fire with IDF forces, and more have been injured. In the past days forces have uncovered anti-tank missiles, explosives, rocket launchers and intelligence data.
Since July 12th, approximately 400 Hizbullah terrorists have been killed by IDF forces.
IDF aerial attacks in the northern Bekaa valley
This morning the IDF identified a large truck suspected of carrying weapons, crossing from the Syrian border into Lebanon. The truck traveled on the route used in the past to smuggle weapons from Syria into Lebanon. The truck arrived at the buildings in question, where it remained for approximately an hour, and then returned across the border into Syria. Suspecting that the buildings were being used as storage points for weaponry, the IAF targeted the buildings.
Targeting of bridges in Beirut
Syria is determined to continue rearming Hizbullah and supply it with weaponry used to attack Israel. This Syrian effort continues despite warnings given to Syria to stop rearming Hizbullah. The IDF is determined to stop this flow of arms to the Hizbullah. The attacks on the bridges last night, which connect Syria and Lebanon, were to this end.