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.