Charges fly as Israel retaliates for Hezbollah attack
May 19, 1996
Web posted at: 1:15 p.m. EDT (1715 GMT)TYRE, Lebanon (CNN) -- Middle East tensions escalated Sunday with Syria and Hezbollah militants accusing Israel of breaking a recent cease-fire agreement. Israel countered by placing the blame on Hezbollah.
The calls were prompted by reports of a clash between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israeli troops. Two guerrillas were killed and one Israeli soldier was wounded, sources said.
According to pro-Israeli militia sources, rebels attacked an Israeli patrol inside Israel's south Lebanon occupation zone. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack.
Israeli tanks immediately retaliated and fired non-explosive shells into nearby villages, Lebanese security sources said. One of the shells badly injured a woman, sources said.
In explaining the attacks, Uri Lubrani, Israel's head of Lebanon policy, said, "First of all, what happened today was not a violation" of the cease-fire. He added that Hezbollah "operated from a built-up area and withdrew to a village full of civilians."
"We must respond," he said. "We have the right of defense."
The U.S.-brokered agreement called on both Israel and Hezbollah to refrain from attacking civilians. It did not cover guerrilla attacks against Israeli forces who occupy parts of south Lebanon, and it gave Israel the right of self- defense.
Sunday's clash was the first time Israeli forces have fired into civilian areas since the cease-fire went into effect April 27.
Syria, a key player in the cease-fire negotiations, earlier said Israel's actions breached the agreement.
"Israeli forces this morning violated the April understanding by shelling civilian Lebanese areas north of the occupied part of south Lebanon," the official Syrian news agency said.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah voiced its outrage.
"What happened today is an aggression against civilians and a clear and unjustified violation of the spirit and text of the April understanding," said Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, a top Hezbollah official.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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