Introduction
The Islamic Resistance (IR) men staged on Wednesday night a well-coordinated and elaborated ambush at Oqmata area near Rihan targeting a patrol of "Israel's" elite egoz commandos. One "Israeli" officer was killed and a soldier injured. Also, the IR mujahedeen hit a Cobra helicopter agunship by heavy ground fire forcing it to make an emergency landing. The two crewmen were slightly injured and later recovered by another helicopter.

The heavy human losses sustained by "Israel's" Army pushed it to launch air and ground aggressions on the populated areas violating the April 1996 Understanding.

However, "Israel's" chief of staff Shaul Mofaz fears that the mauling the collaborators received from the resistance during the retreat from Jezzine last week and the increased speculation of and "Israeli" withdrawal has undermined the militia's ability.

"Israeli" officer and soldier killed in IR operations…(1)
"Heroes of the Islamic Resistance (IR) Wednesday night dealt a new qualitative blow to the "Israeli" occupation forces, emphasizing that they are the ones who hold the initiative in their hands.

"At 20:30, IR spotted an "Israeli" occupation patrol from the Egoz unit in the vicinity of Oqmata. IR's squad of Martyrs Abdel-Rasoul Baydoun and Ibrahim Mohammed Faqih set up two ambushes 200 meters apart.

"When the enemy patrol passed the first trap, the Mujahedeen let it go until it reached the second one, then they opened fire targeting the Egoz patrol with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, in addition to throwing hand grenades on the patrol's men, killing and wounding them.

"The "Israeli" wounded were hysterical, screaming and moaning out loud.

"In the meantime, while the Mujahedeen backed up to another point, the "Israeli" enemy dispatched helicopters to the scene to provide cover for the retreating defeated patrol and to evacuate casualties.

"Furthermore, IR's squad of Martyrs Ghassan Zaatar and Hassan Ali al-Zein, in the Air Defense Unit (ADU), intercepted the enemy choppers with anti-aircraft missiles and ground air defenses, definitely shooting down one enemy helicopter which remained at the battle scene.

"At 21:00, as the remaining troops of the beaten Egoz force were retreating, the Mujahedeen blitzed them with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades at the first ambush point, scoring more hits.

"The Egoz men went on screaming "Egoz.. Egoz", as they believed that they are being attacked by friendly fire from the reinforcement forces.

"The confrontations that lasted nearly two hours were accompanied from the first minutes with artillery fire form IR's Artillery Reinforcement Unit (ARU) which shelled the surroundings of the battle scene and the enemy's forces in Sojod, Kassaret al-Oroush and Bir Kallab, whose western rampart and a 12.7mm machine gun in it were destroyed, preventing these outposts from helping the targeted patrol.

"At around 22:00, the confrontations renewed in a fiercely in the Oqmata fields between IR's Mujahedeen and another "Israeli" infantry force that was dispatched to back up the first patrol and to evacuate casualties.

"Due to the ferocity of the confrontations, the "Israeli" occupation unleashed its warplanes which staged several raids to cover the retreat and evacuation of the two forces.

"At dawn Thursday, the Mujahedeen were able to return safely to their bases.

"An "Israeli" military spokesman acknowledged that Lt. Roi Keller, 21, was killed and a soldier was injured in IR's operations.

""Israeli" forces that were on a planned mission encountered a Hizbullah cell and exchanged fire during which an "Israeli" officer was killed and another soldier was slightly wounded," the army said in a statement.

"Lebanese security officials affirmed that two "Israeli" soldiers were killed and four others were wounded in the fighting.

"Enemy army said an "Israeli" Cobra gunship had "tail damage" and made an emergency landing in the occupied zone. The crew was rescued with "minor scratches" and the cause of the damage was under investigation, it said.

"An "Israeli" Cobra rescue helicopter sent to the scene (of IR attack) was forced to make an emergency landing in a ravine in the zone after sustaining damage to its tail, the army said.

It said the two-man crew was "lightly" injured and that it was not immediately clear whether the helicopter came under fire or suffered technical difficulties.

"First Sergeant Shili Shimon Kislasi, 27, who was critically injured in an emergency landing of an air force Apache assault helicopter on June 1, 1999, had died of his injuries in Beersheba' Soroka Hospital, "Israeli" ""Israel" Wire" published today (yesterday).

Also, the IR group of martyr Issa Khazaal, attacked at 13:15 Thursday, a Lahdi force as it was beefing up Zimraya post. The militants, who used the proper arms, were able to chalk up direct goals.

"Moreover, the Lebanese Resistance Brigades (LRB) at dawn Thursday attacked the occupation's outpost in Haddatha, hitting its ramparts and clashing with the outpost manning personnel.

"Another LRB squad, meanwhile, accurately pounded the same outpost to make cover for the retreat of the attacking squad, while the "Israeli" occupation hysterically bombarded the area as warplanes staged two raids on the outposts' surrounding".

"For its part, the Amal Movement announced that its squads this morning attacked enemy movements on the road to the occupation's outpost in Blat, targeting the same outpost and the one in Berkat Risha with the appropriate weapons, pointing out that the squads scored direct hits".

Furthermore, the IR team of martyrs Khodor Obeid and Naameh Hossaiki in the Artillery Reinforcement Unit (ARU) bombarded, at 19:50, "Israeli" motorized squads as they were trying to gather the parts of the targeted Cobra helicopter at Wardieh ravine.

"Israeli" enemy violates April Understanding…(2)
"The "Israeli" occupation Thursday staged aggressions against south Lebanon, and violated the April Understanding.

"The enemy's warplanes at around 6:00 a.m. staged two sorties against the area between the towns of Haddatha, Aita al-Jabal and Tibneen, launching six air-to-ground missiles and damaging forests which caught fire. A cloud of smoke covered a large part of Haddatha due to the fires.

"The Islamic Resistance's ground air defenses intercepted the warplanes that were dropping protective energy balloons behind them while swooping low and hovering intensively over the area.

"Meanwhile, the "Israeli" heavy artillery bombarded the town of Haddatha, damaging the houses of Moussa Fadel and Mohammed Mashhoor Mustafa.

"The vicinities of Haddatha, Aita al-Jabal, Hariss, Tibneen and Baraasheit were also shelled. Security sources reported that more than one hundred 120mm and 155mm rounds struck these towns.

"Moreover, the "Israeli" artillery bombarded the western vicinities of Yohmor and the hills of Iqleem al-Toffah, following an evening shelling that targeted many towns and damaged several houses.

"Yesterday, "Israeli" warplanes staged three raids against an area near Jibaa in Iqleem al-Toffah. Warplanes also raided the town of Sriara in western Beqaa".

"On the other hand, five outposts of the United Nations peacekeeping troops in the south were hit by "Israeli" bombardment Thursday, a U.N. troops spokesman said.

An "Israeli" shell fell on the outpost of Irish contingent of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) near Hadais on the verge of the "Israeli"-occupied border zone in south Lebanon, UNIFIL's spokesman Timor Goksel told reporters.

"The post's water tank was destroyed, Goksel said, adding that another four outposts for the Irish contingent were also hit by the shrapnel of "Israeli" shells, which caused various material damages.

"The 4,500-strong UNIFIL was established after first "Israeli" invasion of Lebanon in 1978.

Last month, an Irish soldier was killed by shrapnel of a shell fired from one of the "Israeli" occupation militia's outposts, raising the total death toll for the peacekeepers to 226 in the past 21 years, 40 of them from Ireland".

"The UNIFIL is made up of representatives from nine countries, namely, Ireland, Ghana, Nepal, Fiji, India, Finland, Poland, France and Italy".

For its part, the IR released a communiqué in which it reported the following aggressions which launched by the "Israeli" occupation forces on the Lebanese liberated areas (3):

3:00, three 60mm rounds struck the area between Houla and Shaqra villages.
3:40, the surroundings of Qantara compound subjected to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.
5:20, thirteen 155mm missiles fell on the perimeters of Baraasheit town, whereas the peripheries of Haddatha exposed to ten 81mm rounds and a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.
5:50, five 155mm missiles struck the outskirts of Haris.
6:00, the "Israeli" warplanes raided into south of Haddatha.
7:35, the perimeters of Haddatha came under ten 120mm shells and a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds causing damage to the houses of Abdallah Mustafa Nasser and Mohammad Mash'hour Nassreddine in addition to others not identified. In Aita El-Jabal, also, the houses of Mahmoud Mortada, Ali Jamil Skaf, Ahmad Najm, Najib Mortada and Nazim Hussein were damaged.
10:35, twenty 155mm missiles fell on the northwest of Yohmor village and several others on Al-Houranieh area.
13:30, fifteen 160mm missiles were fired at Litani River watercourse and Loussi woodlands igniting several blazes.
15:30, the highway of Haddatha was targeted by 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
16:00, six 155mm missiles slammed into the perimeters of Majdal Zoun.
Between 18:15 and 21:45, the "Israeli" fighter-bombers staged five sorties into Mlita Hill.
20:20, Litani River watercourse was shelled by five 155mm missiles.
20:30, Mount Al-Rafih was targeted by five 81mm rounds and three 120mm shells, whereas Slouqi Valley exposed four others.
20:45, Mount Sojod came under four 155mm missiles and one 120mm shell.
20:55, five 155mm missiles struck Qaissieh Valley.
21:05, the peripheries of Majdal Selem town subjected to four 155mm missiles.
23:00, the "Israeli" warplanes fired two air-to-ground rockets into Oqmata area.
23:15, several 120mm shells were unleashed at Slouqi Valley.
23:25, two 155mm missiles fell on Qalawani area and two others on Hojeir Valley.

Collaborators seek protection from those who used them as sandbags…(4)
""Israeli" outgoing war minister Moshe Arens toured occupied southern Lebanon yesterday. He visited the headquarters of his occupation forces' militia in Marjeyoun."

"Arens claimed that the "Israeli" army had intended to intervene during the militia's pullout from Jezzine last week if Hizbullah had escalated its attacks against the retreating militiamen.

"The Islamic Resistance eliminated two militia convoys during the retreat from Jezzine forcing the enemy and its collaborators to hasten the withdrawal after the humiliation which IR inflicted on them.

Senior militia officials told Arens that they were worried about "Israeli" prime minister-elect Ehud Barak's declared intention of withdrawing the occupation troops from Lebanon within a year.

"In the meantime, the militia's humiliating retreat from Jezzine under IR blows made a number of the militia's senior officers visit Barak to have him pledge that he would protect the militiamen when the occupation forces pull out from Lebanon.

"The militiamen demanded that Barak guarantee his clients asylum before withdrawing from Lebanon, "Israeli" Yedioth Aharonot said.

"Barak's spokeswoman Merav Parsi-Tzadok said that Barak is aware of the problem and will deal with it when he takes office, but will not necessarily guarantee asylum to all 2,500 militiamen and their families".

"It's clear that we are not talking about a blanket offer of political asylum," she said.

 "Israel" reversed decision to withdraw to south of Litani…(5)
"The clash between Hizbullah fighters and "Israeli" commandos in the northern sector came three days after "Israel's" chief of staff decided to postpone an expected pullback to south of the Litani River and, instead, increase troop numbers in the zone".

"General Shaul Mofaz fears that the mauling the “Israel’s” militia received from the resistance during the retreat from Jezzine last week and the increased speculation of an "Israeli" withdrawal has undermined the militia’s ability ".

"The "Israeli" Army also expects the northern sector, between the Litani and Kfar Houna, to be heavily hit in the coming weeks in a concerted effort to crush the SLA once and for all".

"In view of the weakening morale of the SLA, Mofaz has canceled a plan put forward by outgoing Defense (War) Minister Moshe Arens to replace "Israeli" troops in some outposts with militiamen".

"The sector north of the Litani, once providing a lifeline to the militia in Jezzine, has become redundant since the SLA withdrawal from the enclave. Security sources disclosed that 90 militiamen withdrew from Jezzine last week out of a total strength of 178".