Israel Declares Attack by Lebanon An Act of War

Seventeen days after IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in Gaza, a second front was opened on Israel’s northern border Wednesday morning as Hizbullah, under cover of a barrage of Katyusha rockets and mortar shells, kidnapped two more army troops.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared the attack as an “act of war” and not terror. During a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Wednesday afternoon, he called it an unprovoked assault by a sovereign nation and held Lebanon, where Hizbullah has a minister in the government, fully responsible.

“Israel’s response will be restrained but very, very, very painful,” Olmert added.

The Defense Ministry confirmed early Wednesday afternoon that two IDF soldiers had been kidnapped by Hizbullah. IDF ground troops had been sent into Lebanon to search for the two. IAF jets, helicopters and UAVs were also flying above Lebanon searching for the soldiers. Several jets were flying patterns above Beirut, Channel 10 reported. Simultaneously, Navy gunboats and artillery along the border were shelling Hizbullah targets in Lebanon.
The army has destroyed 17 targets as well as Hizbullah outposts and three bridges since the beginning of the operation.
Hizbullah’s Al Manar TV broadcast earlier Wednesday that the organization had kidnapped the two soldiers. A senior Hizbullah official said that at least one of the allegedly kidnapped soldiers was still alive. A senior IDF officer landed Wednesday afternoon in the northern Druse village of Kfar Yanuh apparently to inform a family there that their son had been kidnapped.
Hizbullah launched a heavy barrage of Katyusha rockets and mortar shells at IDF positions and communities along the northern frontier on Wednesday morning starting about 9:15 a.m. One rocket scored a direct hit on a house in Shtula. Magen David Adom said they had treated six people so far. Both soldiers and civilians have been wounded. The wounded were being evacuated to Nahariya hospital.
IDF Northern Command officers were in touch with UN and Red Cross officials in Lebanon to try and conduct negotiations through those organizations with the Lebanese government in an effort to retrieve the captured soldiers diplomatically. According to IDF estimations, military campaigns in Lebanon had little chance of retrieving the soldiers.
Meanwhile, police all over the country have gone on high alert to prevent terror attacks.
According to Channel 10, Hizbullah has offered to exchange the two soldiers and Cpl. Gilad Shalit for thousands of security prisoners.
IDF sources estimated that the attack was a Hizbullah response to Israel’s early Wednesday attempted strike on top Hamas terrorist Mohammad Deif in Gaza.
Residents of the Western Galilee entered their shelters, and in the community of Shlomi, residents were asked to enter fortified rooms early Wednesday.
The northern border has been on high alert since Operation Summer rains began.
By Jerusalem Post STAFF
According to the IDF’s latest evaluation of the battle on the northern border, the kidnappers of the two IDF soldiers have most likely succeeded in moving them deeper into Lebanese territory, reducing the chances of rescuing them.
The IDF predicted it was headed toward a full-blown confrontation with Hizbullah.
Listen Live to Israeli Radio ( it is in English)
And this from Dutch Blog Israel

Israel can and should respond massively, attack all possible targets
linked to Hizbullah and to every Lebanese and Syrian element that
supports that organization. Civilian targets should be avoided, of
course, but if Lebanese ( or Syrian ) civilians get hurt that should
not stop Israel from achieving its objectives. This is a classic
example of a war of choice, chosen by Hizbullah, by its Iranian and
Syrian puppet masters and by its Lebanese landlords. Each of those will
have to be held accountable. Israel’s government and the IDF have to
make sure that all our neigbors will know again that provoking Israel
just isn’t worth it. I am sorry for the innocent Palestinians and
Lebanese who will pay for this with their lives and with their misery.
Also, I am sure that the UN and many other international bodies will
condemn Israel’s actions, but if they are unable to do their job in
Southern Lebanon properly and unwilling to acknowledge that Israel has
the right and even more the duty to defend its citizens – civilians and
soldiers – then, well, $#$@%”>$#$@% them.

And………..
US: Israel Must Do Whatever Necessary to Protect Itself
17:45 Jul 12, ’06 / 16 Tammuz 5766
(IsraelNN.com)

The Bush administration said Wednesday afternoon that “Israel must do whatever necessary to protect itself.”

And of course this communist hater of Jews Kof Annan…..
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called Wednesday for the immediate release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers and condemned Israel’s immediate retaliation. “I condemn without reservations the attack in southern Lebanon, and demand that Israeli troops be released immediately,”

Wild Things’ comment…….
I hope Israel strikes Lebanon so hard and fast that the Lebanese won’t know what hit them! Crush them to a pulp!
May God Bless the IDF and Israel!
Koffi can “KISS MY BUTT!” With his calls that Israeli attacks on Lebanon an act of terrorism.