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Israel not aiming at capturing Hezbollah members: military
3/8/2006 10:09

The initial objective of the military operation in the Lebanese town of Baalbek was not capturing Hezbollah members, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Dan Halutz said yesterday.

"We had no intention to capture particular Hezbollah members. The operation harmed those that had threatened us," Halutz said in a press conference in Beit Hillela, referring to the commando raid in Baalbek on Tuesday night, during which five Hezbollah militants were seized.

At least 10 Hezbollah guerillas were also killed in the overnight operation, IDF spokesman confirmed to Xinhua.

"I have no doubt that more advantages from this operation will be discovered, this was part of the larger-scale operation, and we will continue such actions if necessary." the general added. But Hezbollah denied those captured belonged to the guerrilla group.

"Those who were taken prisoner are citizens. It will not belong before the (Israeli) enemy will discover that they are ordinary citizens," Hezbollah said in a statement broadcast on its Al-Manar television.

Israeli paratroopers with air and tank backup had been operating in southern Lebanon since pre-dawn Tuesday after Israel's security cabinet decided to widen ground offensives in Lebanon.



Xinhua News