israelinsider: security: Soldier killed by Hizbullah missile attack; IDF retaliates

Soldier killed by Hizbullah missile attack; IDF retaliates
By Ellis Shuman April 15, 2001


		04/15 IDF retaliates for lethal Hizbullah attack Jerusalem Post 04/14 Israeli jets attack Southern Lebanon Washington Post 04/14 Fighting erupts over Shebaa Farms BBC



			Mount Dov action


		Hizbullah


			Ben-Eliezer

Israeli warplanes and artillery struck Hizbullah positions after guerrillas fired a missile at an Israeli tank. (Reuters)


	Israel’s northern options

	The Shaba Farms and recent incidents on Mount Dov


	Hizbullah marks anniversary with cross-border attack



	Israel Defense Forces

Staff Sergeant Elad Litvak, 21, from Kibbutz Gazit, was killed yesterday when Hizbullah guerrillas fired two missiles at a tank deployed outside the Gladiola outpost, in the northern part of Mount Dov. One missile hit the tank, instantly killing the radio operator. No other crewmembers were hurt.

In a brief announcement on the Al Manar television station, the Hizbullah announced its "fighters hit an Israeli tank in position inside the occupied Shaba Farms." The Shaba Farms at the foot of Mount Dov are still controlled by Israel, under the assumption they were originally Syrian territory, a claim disputed by Lebanon and Syria.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's spokesman, Raanan Gissin,

"The government of Lebanon is responsible for what takes place on its territory"
- Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres

said the Hizbullah attack was "a clear and flagrant act of aggression in complete violation" of U.N. Security Council Resolution 425. Israel wants the United States and the European Union "to exert their influence and pressure on the Lebanese government and Syria to stop this action," Gissin added.

"The government of Lebanon is responsible for what takes place on its territory," Foreign Affairs Minister Shimon Peres said. Peres contacted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, French and U.S. officials and requested their immediate help to end Lebanese provocations against Israel.

Defense Minister Benyamin Ben-Eliezer described the attack as "an attempt to draw Israel into a confrontation." Ben-Eliezer warned that if it must act in self-defense, Israel's response would be severe.

IDF's "restrained" retaliation
IDF forces yesterday blasted Hizbullah positions with artillery, helicopter gunships and, for the first time since last May's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, with warplanes. Some 60 shells reportedly struck near the Lebanese village of Shaba, from where the Hizbullah missiles were allegedly fired. Air Force jets attacked two Hizbullah positions in the same area. Reports from Lebanon said the air attack caused no injuries.

An Israeli military source reportedly described the Israeli response to the Hizbullah attack as "restrained." An IDF spokesman justified the strikes as necessary in order to respond to serious and continuing violations on the part of the Hizbullah against Israeli soldiers at Mount Dov.

Channel 2 Television said the use of aircraft near the border, in an area that could be reached by artillery, proves Israel meant a show of force rather than a use of force.

The official IDF statement said that "IAF combat airplanes and IDF artillery attacked Hizbullah targets from which the missile was fired, north of Mount Dov. All of our planes returned safely to their base."