January Friday 28-2000:

Introduction

Senior "Israeli" Army officers are quoted as saying "the "Israeli" government is playing a dangerous game" in South Lebanon because its relative restraint could encourage Hizbullah to step up the pace of attacks which could inflict a higher rate of troop casualties.

However, the news reported that the "Israeli" enemy forces are proceeding with the acts of demarcation to create new borders with Lebanon.

"Israeli" officers fear losing ‘deterrent’ effect…(1)
"Senior "Israeli" Army officers are reported to be increasingly concerned that the lack of a military response to Hizbullah’s latest offensive is undermining the army’s deterrent capabilities.
According to the Haaretz newspaper, the military believes that the "Israeli" government is “playing a dangerous game” in south Lebanon because its relative restraint could encourage Hizbullah to step up the pace of attacks, which could inflict a higher rate of troop casualties.
"The fears were voiced following the death of an "Israeli" soldier on Tuesday, the first in five months. "Since the beginning of the month, Hizbullah fighters have increased the number and variety of attacks against occupation forces. But the "Israeli" response has been generally low-key. Even the death of the "Israeli" soldier in an anti-tank missile attack against the radar base in Bayada only elicited an air raid against an abandoned building in Jibaa, more than 50 kilometers away. "Security sources were also puzzled by the muted response to a heavy resistance assault on the SLA*-manned Baraasheit outpost on Tuesday in which three militiamen were wounded. For two hours, Hizbullah fighters battered the position using heavy machine guns, recoilless rifles, mortars and Sagger anti-tank missiles. But the only retaliation by the "Israelis" was a paltry two rounds of 155mm artillery, the minimum response “to any noise more than a good cough in these parts,” a security source noted.
"The "Israeli" officers quoted by Haaretz said that the military could lose its qualitative edge if it did not respond forcefully to the Hizbullah campaign.
"The newspaper said that the last time the "Israeli" Army felt it was losing its qualitative edge was last summer when the government failed to respond to a series of Katyusha attacks into northern Galilee. "Following the June 24 air raids against infrastructure targets in Beirut and the south, there was a significant reduction in resistance operations, the officers noted.
"A combination of Hizbullah’s heightened attacks, the "Israeli" Army’s frustration and careless SLA counterfire ­ such as that which almost hit two schools in Nabatieh on Wednesday ­ was leading observers to fear that events in the south could spiral out of control.
"However, the cold weather on Thursday kept the protagonists indoors, helping to offset what one security source said had been a “potentially disastrous escalation.”
"Even "Israeli" troops in the occupation zone are reportedly suffering the effects of the wintry weather. The "Israeli" Army announced on Thursday that outposts in the zone would be stockpiled with supplies in coming days in case they become cut off by snow.

"ISRAEL" CARVES UP NEW OCCUPATION ZONE: REPORT…(2)
"The daily An Nahar newspaper said "Israel" is setting up a new occupation zone in southern Lebanon. It reported that surveyors have set up a new border fence 60 to 125 meters deep inside Lebanese arable land along a two-kilometer stretch in Ramia district parallel to the highway of the international border. It said warnings against mines were posted on the barbed-wire fence along with a warning system. The move reportedly followed the recent annexation of Lebanese land in the district of Katamoun as part of the new zone "Israel" plans to keep after it withdraws from south Lebanon. "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Barak has pledged to withdraw occupation troops from the south in July, but he has remained vague on whether he will order a withdrawal in the absence of a peace agreement with Syria and Lebanon".

Hizbullah escorts martyr Harb to final resting place…(3)
"Supporters of the Islamic Resistance Wednesday took part in Martyr Taleb Hussein Harb's funeral which started in a motorcade that set out from the Hammoud Hospital in Sidon to the martyr's hometown of Jibsheit.

"Thousands of people filled the town's streets in spite of the heavy rain. MP Hajj Abdallah Qassir, Ulama, and supporters took part in the funeral procession. Mourners carried the martyr's coffin while chanting slogans supporting the Resistance and condemning the Zionist occupation. They also carried Hizbullah and IR flags.

"When the procession reached the town's Husseiniet, Sheikh Ismail Harb led the prayer of the dead. Then, MP Qassir delivered a speech in which he stressed that the resistance will continue until the occupation is removed.

"The recent qualitative operations prove this fact, he said, adding, "the continuation of IR's operations is not related whatsoever to the pattern of the ongoing (Syrian-"Israeli") negotiations which we see stumbling and staggering, for this enemy has never been used to offer concessions through negotiations."

"This enemy understands nothing but the force logic; therefore, the Resistance men's Jihad and the Ummah's embrace of these men is the only path and bet that can impose an unconditional withdrawal on the enemy, the Hizbullah MP stressed.

"The martyr was then laid to rest in the Jibsheit Cemetery which already houses 71 martyrs including the Martyrs' Sheikh, Ragheb Harb".

Letter from prisoner Sheikh Obeid to family…(4)
"A letter from the Prisoners' Sheikh, Abdel-Karim Obeid, was delivered to his family Wednesday evening.

"According to the letter, Sheikh Obeid is in a relatively acceptable health situation and enjoys excellent morale. He has received the news of his bodyguards' release, the martyrdom of some brethren, and the death of his mother.

"In the end, Sheikh Obeid greeted everybody stressing the need for solving the problem of all prisoners".

"Israeli" Aggressions…(5)

The "Israeli" occupying troops launched the following aggressions:

Between 3:30 and 4:55, the perimeters of Loweizeh village came under three 120mm shells and two 155mm missiles.

5:25, the "Israeli" war jets raided into Mount Sojod.

5:50, Mount Sojod was targeted by more than six 155mm missiles.

18:10, the surroundings of Sojod compound exposed to a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets whereas a flare shell was fired overhead.

Military Operations…(6)

The IR team of martyrs Taleb Hussein Harb and Moussa Mahmoud Ahmad attacked, at 19:10, enemy movements inside Sojod compound with the machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. Direct and certain hits were scored, the militants told.

Footnotes:
1- The Daily Star, 28-1-2000.
2- Future TV, 27-1-2000.
3- Al-Manar TV, 27-1-2000.
4- Same source.
5- IR statement, 27-1-2000.
6- Same source.

* It is an "Israeli" nomination we absolutely reject for it contradicts with Lebanon's independence and sovereignty. This army is not but an "Israeli" agent working for realizing "Israel's" goals in Lebanon.