Hizbullah's Missile Assault Sets Lebanon-Israel Border Afire

Hizbullah's new missile assault on an Israeli outpost in the Shebaa farms has raised gloomy question marks on Wednesday, wondering whether the flare-up has been intended as a curtain-raiser for a major border escalation on the eve of a U.S. invasion of Iraq. The operation took the Beirut authorities by surprise. The governments of Lebanon and Syria have withheld comment on the ensuing Israeli threat of a retaliation that would "displease" the two countries. The attack shattered a 5-month lull and provoked an Israeli retaliation on the ground and from the air that killed a 75-year-old Lebanese man, wounded a 25-year-old woman and damaged nine houses in eight Lebanese border towns and villages. "Shebaa Front Aflame Again," said An Nahar's page-one banner-line Wednesday morning. Hizbullah has publicly contended that the attack on the Israeli army position in Rowaissat Al Alam in the Shebaa farms zone Tuesday afternoon underlined the party's determination to keep fighting Israel's occupation of Lebanese land. The Israeli army acknowledged the attack, saying it suffered no casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's spokesman, Raanan Gissin, said Hizbullah's missile assault was a dangerous development against which the Jewish state cannot sit idly back. Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz, Israel's northern commander, told The Associated Press that Hizbullah was "playing with fire." "Hizbullah should refrain from straining our patience. It may abruptly run out and we will be forced to strike back. Neither Lebanon nor Syria would then be happy about our retaliation," Ganz was quoted by the Beirut media as saying. Israeli jets on Tuesday staged two bombing sorties on the outskirts of the Lebanese border towns of Kfar Shouba and Kfar Ammam after Hizbullah's attack. Helicopter gunships strafed nine other nearby villages, according to Lebanese police.(Naharnet-AP)

Beirut, Updated 24 Jan 03, 14:14

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