JERUSALEM - Israel approved a massive new ground offensive into southern Lebanon in an effort Wednesday to inflict further damage on Hezbollah and halt most rocket attacks before the U.N. Security Council demands a cease-fire.
The decision came on the deadliest day of the war for Israeli troops in Lebanon, with 15 soldiers killed. It coincided with mounting demands from the international community for both sides to halt the fighting, which has killed at least 829 people.
The plan to force Hezbollah guerrillas — and their short-range rockets — out of southern Lebanon and past the Litani River would escalate the fierce fighting there and, if successful, leave Israel in control of a security zone that it evacuated six years ago after a bloody 18-year occupation.
A new Israeli offensive would also put tremendous pressure on the United Nations to agree quickly on a cease-fire to end the fighting that has caused widespread destruction across southern Lebanon and forced hundreds of thousands of Israelis into bomb shelters. Israeli officials implied they would halt the new offensive if a cease-fire agreement removes Hezbollah from the border.
In a televised speech, Hezbollah’s leader taunted the Israelis.
“If you enter our land, we will throw you out by force and we will turn the land of our invaluable south into your graveyard,” Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said. “We will be waiting for you at every village, at every valley. Thousands of courageous holy warriors are waiting for you.”
The White House said Wednesday neither Israel nor Hezbollah should escalate their war. Press secretary Tony Snow said the U.S. message was for both sides.
Diplomacy falters
Diplomatic efforts to reach a quick U.N. resolution faltered over differences between Washington and Paris on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. France backed Lebanon’s call for Israeli troops to pull out once hostilities end, while the United States supported Israel’s insistence on staying until a robust international force is deployed. Lebanon has offered to send troops to patrol the border region.
