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Israeli forces push deeper into south Lebanon despite UN resolution
13/8/2006 10:18

Israeli troops pushed deep into south Lebanon to widen its Lebanon assault early Saturday, hours after the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israel-Hezbollah fighting.

An Israeli force reached the village of Ghandouriyeh east of the port city of Tyre, which is 11 km inside southern Lebanon on Saturday, the deepest thrust yet in Israel's ground offensive against Hezbollah, media reports quoted security sources as saying.

An Israeli army spokesman said that according to Wednesday's decision by the security cabinet, Israel would expand troops to as far as the Litani River, which runs 30 km from the border.

Meanwhile, Israeli combat jets were also in action across other parts of Lebanon, pounding northern roads leading to Syria and destroying a power plant in the major southern city of Sidon.

Security officials said Israeli warplanes fired at least three missiles which caused a fire and cut off electricity in Sidon,adding several airstrikes also hit Akkar province, some 97 kmnorth of Beirut, and targets in the southern port city of Tyre.

The actions came shortly after the Security Council voted on a resolution calling for an end to the month-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

The resolution also authorizes sending 15,000 U.N. peacekeepersto help coordinate the deployment of Lebanese troops to southern Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accepted on late Friday the UN resolution and said he would urge the cabinet to approve it during Sunday's meeting.

But Israeli official sources said that Israeli military operations in Lebanon would continue until Sunday, when its Cabinet would meet to endorse the resolution.



Xinhua News