September Wednesday 8-1999:

“Israeli” air aggression targets deep into Lebanon…(1)
“Israeli” warplanes flew 125 kilometers north of the occupation zone on Tuesday to fire two missiles at a cluster of farm buildings beside the Orontes River in Hermel.

“The raid, the most northerly staged by the “Israelis” in at least two years, comes as the “Israelis” have significantly reduced the amount of shelling against front-line areas in the south over the past few days.

Four F-16 fighter-bombers circled a small hilltop 5 kilometers north of Shouaghir village at around 11.30am before two of the planes swooped low over the Assi Valley and fired a pair of missiles. “Several houses were damaged in the blasts and a high-tension power cable was severed. No casualties were reported. An Internal Security Forces patrol inspected the site afterward for unexploded munitions.

“The intended target of the raid was unclear. Local residents said that there was once a Hizbullah base in the area but it had shut several years ago. The banks of the Assi, with its numerous riverside restaurants and fish farms, are popular with tourists.

Hassan Hajj Hassan, a local resident, said the “raids aimed at intimidating civilians and scaring their children.”

“Imad Hajj Hassan, the mayor of Shouaghir, condemned the attack and said the district was an agricultural area.

“On June 16, the “Israelis” staged a similar raid a few kilometers south at Ras al-Assi, wounding two civilians. The previous air strike on the area occurred in March 1997.

“In 1994, “Israel’s” air force struck a training camp in the mountains near Baalbek, killing up to 50 recruits.

“Further south, there has been an unusual decline in the number of “Israeli” bombardments of front-line areas in the past few days. Although resistance attacks are continuing at a steady rate, security sources have noted that the “Israelis” and the SLA* militiamen in front-line outposts are not responding to attacks with the customary handful of mortar or artillery rounds.

“Typically, a resistance attack against a front-line SLA position of three or four long-range mortar rounds will be met with a few rounds of counter-mortar fire from the occupants of the outpost, as well as several 155mm shells from “Israeli” artillery guns positioned along the border.

Security sources said that on Monday, despite six or seven attacks being staged against both “Israeli” and SLA posts, no counter-artillery fire was recorded, even though the resistance “firing was in most cases from very open terrain.”

“The decline began following last week’s escalation when the deaths of two civilians in Libbaya led to a cross-border mortar and Katyusha barrage. The two civilians died as “Israeli” and SLA gunners pounded the western Beqaa following the killing of two SLA militiamen in a double roadside bomb ambush.

““Israeli” and SLA counter-bombardments regularly cause civilian casualties in Lebanon. Given Hizbullah’s repeated warnings that it will retaliate with Katyusha rockets into northern Galilee in reprisal for civilian casualties, the “Israeli” Army may be considering a more judicious approach to the use of artillery. “Certainly, the “Israeli” Army has been alarmed at the behavior of their militia allies who tend to be less prudent when retaliating against resistance attacks. Furthermore, the June Katyusha attack into “Israel” was largely provoked by SLA mortar fire wounding three civilians in the same village on two consecutive days.

“The “Israeli” Army may have ordered the militia to sit out resistance mortar attacks, thus preventing the prospect of renewed cross-border Katyusha attacks in the event of further civilian casualties caused by reckless SLA counter-bombardments. The militia’s front-line posts have been recently re-fortified with ample quantities of reinforced concrete, providing sufficient protection against 81mm and 120mm mortars.

“The security sources admit being puzzled at the “change of pace,” but believe it is too early to say whether the “Israelis” have altered their policy with regard to the use of artillery”.

“Israeli” Aggressions…(2)
The “Israeli” occupying troops staged the following aggressions:
5:20, the “Israeli” helicopter gunships showered the area of Rihan town with heavy machine gun bullets.
11:45, the “Israeli” war jets raided into Ras El-Ain, Baalbeck.

Owali Bridge reunites the south with the nation…(3)
“Traffic commenced on Owali Bridge after nearly two months of the “Israeli” aggression on the 24th of June.

“The company that reconstructed the bridge reopened it today (yesterday) in the presence of the Governor of the South Faysal Al-Sayegh, the charge d’affaires of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ahmad Al-Hussieni and a number of MPs. In his speech Mr. Al-Hussieni said that Iran supports the people and government of Lebanon saying that this event is a letter to ““Israel”” that Lebanon is not alone.

“Governor Al-Sayegh in his turn thanked the Islamic Republic in its efforts to fully support Lebanon.

It was noted that the constructed bridge was 28m long and 12m wide and cost over 300 thousand US dollars. The second stage of the construction will end within the coming six weeks”.

Military Operations…(4)
The Lebanese Resistance Brigades (LRB) fighters attacked, at 11:30, enemy movements at Soweida outpost with the proper weapons scoring direct goals.

“Israeli” Army’s chief chaplain to step down…(5)
“ Major-General Rabbi Gad Navon, 78, the IDF** chief chaplain, has announced he plans to retire from the military.

“Last week, ISRAELWIRE reported that IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz planned to call upon the chief chaplain to step down following the bungled identification of remains of naval commandos returned to “Israel” in a deal arranged with Hizbullah.

“The IDF commander also blames the aged chief chaplain for other problems plaguing the military rabbinate, some due to Navon's failing health and his less than active role in overseeing the unit's operations.

“The announcement comes following Navon serving at the helm of the unit for 22 years. The military has announced that in line with its austerity plan limiting the number of senior commanders, the new head of the IDF Rabbinate will only be of the rank of brigadier-general”.