Israeli ground troops now in Lebanon!!

[swirlundergrounder]

An unknown number of troops are now reported to have entered southern Lebanon in an attempt to engage Hezbollah.

...The plot thickens....

BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- Israeli ground troops have entered southern Lebanon on a mission to destroy outposts of the militant group Hezbollah, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN early Wednesday.

The spokesman said the troops are "close to the border." No further details were immediately available.

Hours earlier, Israeli airstrikes pounded the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital near the airport, lighting up the night with explosions.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the latest airstrikes, but at least a dozen people were killed in Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday.

Eleven Lebanese soldiers died in an Israeli airstrike on an army barracks, and one Israeli was killed by Hezbollah rockets fired into northern Israel, sources said.

Israel launched an extensive bombing campaign against the militant Islamist group after it abducted two Israeli soldiers and killed three others in a raid into northern Israel last Wednesday. Since Thursday, Hezbollah has fired 750 rockets into Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Also Wednesday, Israeli tanks were rolling into a refugee camp in central Gaza, the IDF said. Israeli forces have been operating in parts of Gaza since one of its soldiers was captured June 25 by three militant groups.

There was no immediate word on casualties in the Gaza operation.

The death toll in northern Israel stands at 25, including 13 civilians. Lebanese internal security forces said 183 people have been killed and 456 wounded in the country since the start of hostilities. There was no breakdown between civilians and military personnel.

Members of Hezbollah told CNN that Israel's aerial assault has not damaged their ability to fight, and vowed to struggle to the death.

More on

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/...ast/index.html