September Friday 24 -1999:

Introduction
President Emile Lahoud described the "Israeli" aggression on the Lebanese Army post in Sarba, Iqleem Al-Toffah hilltops, as "brutal and barbaric violation of international laws and conventions".

For its part, the Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Al-Hoss reiterated, before the General Assembly's 54th session, Lebanon's call for "Israel's" unconditional withdrawal from South in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425.

President Emile Lahoud led a chorus of official outrage against Thursday’s air attack by "Israel" on the army outpost in Sarba…(1)
"He described the attacks as “savage and brutal ­ a violation of international laws and regulations.” The president praised the army’s “heroic stand” and courage, “despite the huge difference in the means and capabilities” between the two forces.

"Lahoud said that the enemy’s “aggression will not weaken our determination to defend our land and seek a just and comprehensive peace. We continue to insist on a joint Lebanese-Syrian track for peace negotiations and support the Lebanese resistance against the occupation.”

Army commander General Michel Suleiman also railed against the "Israeli" attack. An army statement quoted Suleiman as saying that “the enemy has gone too far in its aggressive acts which prove that his withdrawal claims were nothing but a trap.”

"Suleiman inspected the targeted army site and visited the wounded soldiers who are being treated at the Hammoud hospital.
"In a statement from New York, Prime Minister Salim Hoss said the attack “offered new evidence of "Israel's" aggressive policy and its disregard for all humanitarian values.”

Hoss calls for unconditional “Israeli” withdrawal…(2)
"Addressing the General Assembly’s 54th session, the prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s call for "Israel's" unconditional withdrawal from the south in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 425.

"Hoss attacked "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Barak for the latter’s public refusals to either give up East Jerusalem, dismantle Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, return to the June 4, 1967, armistice line, or allow the Palestinians to build an army.

“Such statements do not reflect good intentions or an authentic will to make peace on the "Israeli" side,” he said.

Hoss argued that no real peace could be achieved without “"Israel's" complete withdrawal from south Lebanon and Syria’s Golan Heights.”

“"Israel" must give Palestinians the right of self-determination,” he continued, “allowing them to establish their state with Jerusalem as its capital and return to their homes in Palestine.

“I would like to stress that no peace can be achieved in the Middle East without the Palestinian refugees ­ including the few hundred thousand hosted by Lebanon ­ returning to their homes,” he added. “The Lebanese are unanimously against any permanent settlement of refugees in Lebanon.”

Hoss condemned "Israel's" attacks against Lebanon, including the killing of 107 civilians at a UN compound in Qana near Tyre during "Israel's" 16-day Grapes of Wrath onslaught in April 1996. He also decried the June air strikes which destroyed two power stations and three bridges.

In addition, he called for the immediate release of Lebanese detainees held in "Israeli" prisons.

“Earlier, the prime minister explained his refusal to attend the “Partners in Peace” conference for "Israeli" and Arab officials which US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright plans to host in New York on Friday. “It’s impossible for me to be in the same room with "Israeli" officials as long as "Israel" occupies my homeland,” he told reporters accompanying him on the trip.

Death and heroism on the frontline…(3)
"From the tragedy of the deadly "Israeli" air attack against the Lebanese Army anti-aircraft battery in Sarba emerged a tale of heroism. A seriously wounded soldier continued firing at the warplanes after losing his arm.

"Private Mohammed Taleb was manning the anti-aircraft guns on top of an armored personnel carrier as "Israeli" warplanes pounded the area around Jibaa, 4 kilometers to the northeast shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

"Taleb and his colleagues retaliated, firing their heavy machine guns. But one of the fighter-bombers struck back, firing a missile at the unit. Taleb lost his arm in the explosion and two of his comrades were also wounded. The personnel carrier was also damaged. Taleb kept shooting at the circling warplanes despite the loss of his limb.

"The planes returned moments later and another missile was launched. This time the rocket destroyed a truck, causing further casualties.

“I’d been watching the planes and saw how they were forced to avoid the gunfire,” said George Helou, who lives 500 meters from the army position. “I saw a flash and heard explosions so I knew that the battery had been hit. Seconds later I heard the shooting again and I thought that God had protected the soldiers.”

"The other wounded were Khaled Shalha, Mohammed Dib, Mohammed Samad, Kanj Fayed and Elie Ghossein.

Mikhayel Abi Tannous, the most seriously injured, was rushed into surgery but doctors were unable to revive him.

"Dr. Abdel-Hamid Hashisho, said that Taleb’s arm was amputated at the elbow, adding that his condition was stable.

Weeping outside, another soldier, Mohammed Samad, said, “I’m not crying for what happened to us. We expect this to happen. I’m crying for the loss of Mikhayel,” he said.

"The army command said that Mikhayel Abi Tannous was born in Ardeh, Zghorta, in 1973. He joined the army in 1991 and received the praise of the army command several times. He will be laid to rest at 3.30pm Friday in al-Saydeh Church in Ardeh".

"Israeli" Aggressions…(4)
The Islamic Resistance (IR) issued a communiqué in which it mentioned the following "Israeli" aggressions:
00:55, two 120mm shells hit Arid El-Zennar area, whereas the surroundings of Kfar Houna position subjected to a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.
Between 6:45 and 7:30, Mount Al-Rafih was targeted by four 120mm shells.
Between 6:50 and 16:30, six 120mm shells struck Mount Sojod.
6:50, the surroundings of Sojod outpost exposed to several grenades.
7:35, one 155mm missile landed the peripheries of Jibaa town.
12:30, several rounds fell on the surroundings of Sojod and Bir Kallab outposts.
Between 16:50 and 17:00, the peripheries of Baraasheit town came under two tank rounds, one 120mm shell and a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets.
17:00, Mount Zaatar was shelled by four 155mm missiles.
Between 18:20 and 20:15, Mount Sojod was bombarded by six tank rounds.
18:30, the "Israeli" war jets raided into the peripheries of Jibaa and staged several mock air raids overhead.
20:15, four 155mm missiles slammed into the perimeters of Jibaa.

Military Operations…(5)
The Islamic Resistance (IR) team of martyrs Hassan Hijazi and Qassem Khreis attacked violently, at 00:10, Salaah position with the rocket-propelled grenades. The militants were able to chalk up direct and certain goals.

Ten minutes later, the IR unit of martyrs Jihad Annani and Ziad Mohammad Zahwi fell upon Mashaaroun outpost with the rocket-propelled grenades scoring direct hits.

Besides, the IR squad of martyrs Issa Hassan Makki and Hussein Mahmoud Karout attacked, at 18:00, Bir Kallab outpost with the machine gun and rocket-propelled grenades chalking up direct goals.

Meanwhile, the IR team of martyrs Rida Hariri and Adham Mohammad Hassan was targeting an "Israeli force inside Kassaret Al-Oroush compound. The militants managed to score direct and certain hits.

For its part, the fighters of Lebanese Resistance Brigades (LRB) launched, at 4:30, an attack on the "Israeli" post of Dabsheh. Two hours later, the fighters of LRB attacked Beaufort Castle.

At 6:40, several groups of LRB targeted Soweida outpost with the mortars scoring direct and definite goals.

Fifteen minutes later, the groups of LRB staged a swift fifteen-minute attack on the outposts of Sojod and Bir Kallab. Whereas, the fighters who used the machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades managed to destroy Sojod’s northern fortification. The smoke columns were seen billowing out of it.

Moreover, a group of LRB targeted, at 12:30, enemy squad inside Beaufort Castle with the proper weapons scoring direct hits.

25 Lebanese visited detained relatives in al-Khiam…(6)
"Twenty-five Lebanese today (yesterday) visited nine of their loved ones who are detained as hostages in the "Israeli" occupation's al-Khiam detention center.

"As usual, the International Committee for Red Cross (ICRC) transported the detainees' relatives through the Kfar Tibneet crossing.

"The visited detainees were: Khalil Youness, Mohsen Qousan, Mohammed Aboud, Monzer Diab, Ghassan Saeed, Mohammed Tormos, Yasser Halawi, Faisal Halawi, and Hussein Abou Saad".