Israel 'will do what is necessary'
Herald Sun | 21 July 2006

 

ISRAEL would launch a full-scale ground operation in Lebanon if necessary, Defence Minister Amir Peretz warned today amid intense fighting between small numbers of troops and Hezbollah guerillas.

"If we reach the conclusion that the ground operation is necessary, we will do it. Let no terror organisation feel we would cower from any operation," he said during a tour of towns hit by Hezbollah rocket fire.

"We have no intention of conquering Lebanon, but if we will have to act in order to complete our tasks and reach a victory, we will do it without thinking twice," Mr Peretz said.

General Alon Friedman, from Israel's northern command, told army radio that troops concentrated on the northern border with Lebanon "are of more than division strength and would allow a large-scale ground offensive if necessary".

Mr Peretz reiterated that the fundamentalist Shiite militia Hezbollah would not be allowed to return to its outposts along Lebanon's volatile border with Israel.

"Hezbollah flags will not be waved on the borders of the state of Israel," the minister said.

Israeli forces have destroyed dozens of Hezbollah positions inside southern Lebanon in a massive military offensive following the abduction of two of soldiers in a Hezbollah border attack on July 12.