Israeli Aggressions

 
  January Sunday 3 -1999:
 
Lebanon blasts "Israeli" attack threat: Katyusha rockets are always ready to defend civilians and protect infrastructure… (1)
"Lebanon on Saturday strongly condemned the renewed "Israeli" threat to attack the country's infrastructure"

"The "Israeli" threat clearly showed its intention of aggression against Lebanese civilians," Lebanese Minister of Displaced Affairs and Information Anwar Khalil told Lebanon's Central News Agency.

""Israel's"" threat, which seemed like a respond to Katyusha attack on its north, was designated in fact to cover its criminal act against a Lebanese family, seven members of which were killed in "Israeli" air raids, he added.

"Last month, "Israeli" warplanes raided Lebanon's eastern Beqaa Valley, massacring a woman and her six children. ""Israel"" later claimed that was a "mistake" and made a public "apology" for the victims.

The next day, the Hizbullah resistance group slammed scores of Katyusha rockets into "Israeli" colonies in occupied northern Palestine in retaliation, wounding at least 16 "Israelis"".

"The development forced the "Israeli" security cabinet to review its policy on south Lebanon.
In its meeting last Thursday, the "Israeli" government decided to attack Lebanon's infrastructure when its north was hit again by Hizbullah's rocket attacks".

"Minister Khalil stressed that Lebanon's resistance movement is a legal right and will continue till the day all the country's occupied lands are liberated.

On the other hand, Lebanese parliamentarian and Hizbullah member Sayyed Ammar al-Musawi warned Friday that the Islamic Resistance men will attack ""Israel"" with Katyusha rockets if it strikes at Lebanon's infrastructure.

"Attacking the country's infrastructure is a violation of the April (1996) understanding, and we reserve the right to respond in an adequate manner," he said during an Iftar, the evening meal to break the daily Moslem fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

"The Katyusha rockets are always ready. They will defend civilians and protect the infrastructure," he said.

1- Al-Manar TV, 2-1-1999.

  January Monday 4 -1999:

Four women and two children wounded after copycat air strike against Janta… (1)
"The "Israeli" warplanes bombed Janta, wounding six residents a fortnight after a deadly attack on the same Bekaa village".

"Four women and two children were struck by shrapnel as the warplanes bombed radio antennas in the villages of Nahle and Janta. A Syrian soldier was also reported slightly hurt in the raid".

"The air raid on Janta, 13 days after a copycat raid killed seven members of a single family, came as the "Israeli" government rejected calls to withdraw from the south and vowed to launch deep strikes into Lebanon in response to possible Katyusha attacks on Galilee".

"Hizbullah, however, warned the Jewish state that if Lebanese civilians were harmed, then the guerrillas would not hesitate to respond with cross-border rocket strikes".

"Four F-16 jets sortied low over Nahle at 12:45 P.M. and dropped six bombs near a radio antenna belonging to Hizbullah’s Voice of the Oppressed station.

"Two more bombs fell on the home of Ahmad Ayoub in Janta wounding his wife, Hamida Ayoub, 55, and their daughters Zeinab, 20, Sara, 5, and Shoujoun, 2. Two relatives, Hamdah Haikal Ayoub, 45, and Tihfa Suleiman Ayoub, 60, were also wounded. After hearing of the casualties, Hizbullah’s deputy secretary-general, Sheik Naim Qassem said “we reserve the right to respond at an opportune moment and in appropriate fashion after the "Israeli" raid which wounded Lebanese civilians.”

Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Lebanon would file a complaint to the five-nation Monitoring Group over the air raid and contact the international community “to expose the brutal nature of "Israel"’s aggression.”

"The last raid on Janta Dec. 22 killed a mother and six of her children aged between 18 months and 13 years".

"An "Israeli" board of inquiry found that an outdated photograph was to blame for the slaughter, the Maariv newspaper said Sunday."

"The newspaper said the intelligence pictures of the site had been taken some three years ago. It also said the raid had been delayed for several hours for approval, which affected outside lighting and may have biased the pilot’s judgment".

" It would also appear that long-range air strikes could be a new feature of "Israeli" policy toward Lebanon following the conclusion of a series of crisis meetings held by "Israel"’s security cabinet.

The Cabinet decided to heed the advice of the "Israeli" army and voted to maintain the occupation, despite pressure from some ministers to bomb Lebanon’s infrastructure. They also chose to ignore Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon’s plan for a staged withdrawal."

 “The resistance has been successful in the south in creating a balance to protect civilians so that when "Israel" contemplates targeting infrastructure in Lebanon, it knows it is not going to be a picnic,” said Hizbullah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah at an iftar in Baalbek. “No longer can "Israel" kill civilians and not pay a price.”

"Bint Jbeil MP Mohammed Fneish said: “Any further violation of the April Understanding will lead the Islamic Resistance to target "Israeli" settlements. But if the enemy commits itself to the agreement, we would not need to fire Katyushas into occupied Palestine,” he added at an iftar in Tibnine".

1- The Daily Star, 4-1-1999. 

  January Tuesday 5 -1999:

Lebanon protested "Israeli" aggressions before monitoring group… (1)
"Lebanon formally protested the wounding of the family in the Janta attack to the five-nation monitoring group which is scheduled to convene in Naqoura Thursday".

"The group, comprising delegates from Lebanon, Syria, France, "Israel" and the U.S., will also hear another Lebanese complaint over the destruction of six houses in Arnoun Dec. 28. "Israel" has lodged a complaint over allegations of the resistance staging an attack from populated areas of Majdal Zoun".

"President Emile Lahoud said Monday that Lebanon was contacting world powers to prevent an escalation of "Israeli" attacks".

"Prime Minister Salim Hoss said that he had contacted the embassies of countries with permanent seats on the UN Security Council to protest the "Israeli" air raids on Janta".

"So-called ‘mistakes’ in which Lebanese civilians die apparently go unpunished by the "Israeli" military. The lieutenant-colonel who commanded the Dec. 22 air raid on Janta in which a mother and six of her children were killed also took part in Sunday’s strike against the same village, according to "Israeli" reports. Yediot Ahronot reported that the unidentified officer apparently “took to heart” his previous “error” and was permitted to participate in the second raid".

"Information Minister Anwar Khalil protested Monday a two-week-siege of Shebaa, in the eastern sector of the occupied zone. He said the village was in dire shortage of food.

Security sources said that since the siege began, 90 villagers had been detained and questioned by "Israeli" troops".

1- The Daily Star, 5-1-1999. 

  January Wednesday 6 -1999:

"Israeli" occupation launches more aggressions
""Israeli" warplanes at 10:30 and 14:50 today violated Lebanon's airspace staging a series of mock raids at a low altitude over the southern towns of Nabatieh and Tyre".

"The "Israeli" aggression took place as schoolchildren were returning home, creating a state of panic among them".

"The "Israeli" jets were met with anti-aircraft fire from Lebanese army positions".

"Meanwhile, the occupation's outpost in Ali al-Taher shelled the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqieh and Zawtar al-Gharbieh and Hima Arnoun with 81mm, 105mm, and 120mm rounds".

"At 15:00, occupation forces in Zaffateh and Beauforte Castle outposts bombarded Mazraat al-Hamra, Hima Arnoun and the outskirts of Yohmor and Beauforte Castle with heavy and phosphorous rounds, while enemy heavy machine guns raked the targeted areas".

"Moreover, a joint "Israeli"-collaborator force in the afternoon stormed the town of Arnoun and searched some of its houses"… (1).

However, an IR statement reported the following "Israeli" aggressions (2)
4:15, the surroundings of Baraasheit compound exposed to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
6:00, a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds hit the surroundings of Bir Kallab outpost.
6:40, four 120mm shells struck the perimeters of Baraasheit town.
6:55, the peripheries of Haddatha town subjected to one 120mm shell.
11:50, the surroundings of Houla post subjected to a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
14:35, two 155mm missiles fell on Hamra area.
20:55, four 120mm shells hit Mount Al-Rafih whereas Hamra area was targeted by three 155mm missiles.
21:30, the perimeters of Arnoun came under twelve 82mm shells and a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds. Meanwhile, the "Israeli" helicopter gunships raked the surroundings of Beaufort Castle.

Monthly report on "Israeli" aggressions on Lebanon (Dec. 1998)
"There were 124 "Israeli" ground, air, and sea aggressions on more than 100 Lebanese areas and districts during December 1998".

"Air aggressions constituted 31.6% of the gross aggressions (32.9% in November).

In December "Israel" added a new hideous massacre to its history which is already full of crimes against Lebanese peaceful civilians".

"On Dec. 22 "Israeli" warplanes raided with six missiles an under-construction house at the entrance of the town of Janta (Beqaa). The raid annihilated a family of six children and their mother besides seriously wounding the father. The family members were preparing to break their fasting in the holy month of Ramadan when the massacre took place turning the bodies of Mohammed Amin Othman's family into charred remains and small pieces".

"The martyrs are Mohammed's wife Nadwa al-Sayyed, 35, his children Amina, 16, Amin, 14, Souad, 12, Abda, 10, Ali, 5, and Sobhi 18 months".

"The "Israeli" raid was condemned by all Lebanese political, religious and popular bodies and figures. Lebanon sent a letter of protest to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in which Beirut rejected the "Israeli" "apology" for killing the victims. Lebanon also filed a complaint with the April Understanding Monitoring Group".

"Moreover, December witnessed "Israeli" provocative mock air raids which were carried out over the capital Beirut and other Lebanese cities, panicking civilians, especially in schools as some schoolchildren left their classes and returned home for fear of "Israeli" aggressions".

""Israeli" warplanes also raided the al-Mashaeb area (in the woods of the Jbal al-Botom town) on Dec. 3; the deserted mills near the Habboush River, Wadi Zillaya, Birkit al-Jabbour, Abu Rashed (western Beqaa) on Dec. 4; Jabal al-Rafieh Hilltops, Mazraat Oqmata on Dec. 12; a wadi between Zillaya and Qilia on Dec. 13; Mothallath al-Tamerieh, Wadi al-Molook, and wadi al-Qaissieh (Khorbet Selim) on Dec. 18; and al-Jabbour Hilltops and the woods of Abu Rashid (western Beqaa) on Dec. 22.

On the other hand, "Israeli" bombardment of the town of al-Tiri wounded a woman whom UNIFIL troops were able to pull back and hand over to the Red Cross".

"On Dec. 17 and "Israeli" commando unit killed a 17-year-old scout boy. Mohsen Abdel-Raoof Khalaf was martyred while performing his duty as a civil defense volunteer".

"Occupation forces' gunboats on Dec. 5 encircled Lebanese fishermen's gunboats off the shore between Rashiedieh, Qlaileh, and al-Mansouri (south of Tyre)".

"The "Israeli" gun boats showered the fishermen's boats with heavy machine gun fire wounding Malik Sikmani, 34, while another 11fishermen narrowly escaped death".

"In other "Israeli" practices inside the occupation zone, "Israeli" forces on Dec. 25 stormed into the town of Shibaa after blocking it off".

"Some of the town's residents were questioned by the occupation troops who also detained 16 people, including 5 Lahd militia members, under the pretext of looking for those who assassinated collaborator Ghassan Daher who was mysteriously killed earlier".

"Press reports said Daher was preparing to flee the occupied zone following the "Israeli" reports of an imminent "Israeli" withdrawal from the occupied zone".

"Other press reports said a UNIFIL officer stated that "Israeli" occupation forces and their proxy militia carried out an earlier campaign of detentions on Dec. 6 in the occupied town of al-Tiri, abducting ten residents, including seven women. The farmers who were on their way to their olive groves in Bait Leef were taken to the Saf al-Hawa detention center (Bint Jbeil)."

"Reports added that the collaborator militia has summoned Mahmoud Abdallah Shaito, 65, of al-Tiri, to Saf al-Hawa for questioning. The militia also detained three of its members for investigation after the clash between "Israeli" and militia patrols in al-Majiedieh".

"The collaborator militia also detained Youssef Ali Ahmed, 50, a taxi drivers of the town of al-Khiam, on Dec. 7, Raef Essa from the town of Ramia on Dec. 19, and Salam Abbas Swaid on Dec. 30 claiming that the latter cooperated with "enemy security bodies".

"On Dec. 27. an "Israeli" motorized force advanced to the eastern neighborhood of the town of Arnoun, destroyed seven houses, and demolished dozens of olive trees that surrounded the houses in which the occupation claimed to have found weapons and ammunition, an accusation flatly denied by the residents."

"The "Israeli" occupation forces on Dec. 3 expelled Sami Youssef Nammour, 28, through the Zimrayya crossing, claiming that he "cooperated with Lebanese security bodies". Nammour had been detained a week before he was expelled".

December witnessed a number of tours and celebrations made or attended by the enemy military commanders.

"On Dec. 12, a military meeting was held at the Marjeyoun barracks in the presence of "Israeli" army officers and collaborator militia commanders".

"The meeting aimed at discussing the situation in the occupied zone following the increasing resistance operations and the mounting "Israeli" losses, besides the question of cooperation between some militiamen, especially Maronites, with the resistance, a fact that has shocked the "Israeli" political leadership".

"A joint "Israeli"-Lahdi military delegation on Dec. 30 toured the Jezzine sector and inspected the outposts which the proxy militia had evacuated."

"The "Israeli" military delegation met the Lahd militia command in the sector.

On Dec. 31, commander of the northern area in the "Israeli" occupation army Gaby Askenazi visited the occupied zone and inspected the site of a clash between two Golani units in al-Taibeh.

A celebration has been held in the occupied zone in the presence of the liaison unit commander Gen. Erez Gerstein. The rally was not attended by the proxy militia's commander Antione Lahd who was reportedly spending the holidays with his family in France. However, reports affirmed that Lahd left the area for an unknown destination after the unrest in the ranks of his militia.

The collaborator militia carried out war games at the Majiedieh Institute for Training on Dec. 2 in the presence of Gerstein and Lahd".

"Joint "Israeli"-collaborator forces carried out two war games with live ammunition on Dec. 7 and Dec. 14 with the aim of intercepting any potential advancement at the Hasbayya axis.

The occupation and its collaborators also reinforced their positions at the Shraifeh hilltop, and closed the crossings of Kfarfalous, Zimrayya and Roum."

"These aggressions resulted in the martyrdom of eight civilian, one Islamic Resistance martyr, wounding seven civilians, detaining 33 people (including eight Lahd militiamen), expelling one resident, destroying seven houses and damaging ten others".

"Israeli" aggressions on Lebanon in the year 1998:
- killed 21 civilians
- wounded 100 civilians
- 318 people were detained
- 38 people were deported
- 340 houses were damaged.

1- Al-Manar TV, 5-1-1999.
2- IR statement, 5-1-1999.

  January Thursday 7 -1999:

"Israeli" Aggressions… (1)
"The "Israeli" occupation forces proceeded with their aggressions against civilian areas. Enemy artillery today bombarded the Jib Swaid area with 155mm rounds and west of Yater village with eight others.

Moreover, "Israeli" warplanes staged more provocative flights and mock air raids in the south and broke the sound barrier over Beirut, while espionage MK drones flew over southern areas".

"In the afternoon, enemy aircraft flew over Sidon at low altitude".

"Enemy gunboats intercepted a boat in Lebanese regional waters off the al-Qlialeh shore.

Fishermen brothers Hussein and Ahmed Taha were held and questioned by the occupation forces for hours before being allowed to return to the Tyre port".

1- Al-Manar TV, 6-1-1999.

  January Friday 8 -1999:

Occupation forces stormed into Arnoon, bulldozed 18 houses
"An "Israeli" force last midnight stormed into a Lebanese village and destroyed 18 house.

The 30-strong unit was accompanied by three bulldozers which were used to destroy the houses in Arnoun village which lies just outside the occupied zone. The unit withdrew at 4:30 a.m".

"The destroyed houses belong to: Khalil Hamdan, Mohammed Ali Kharoubi, Kazem Hamdan, Yehia Muslim, Mahmoud Akil Ajami, Abdullah Awada, Abed-Ali Moussa, Qassem Marouni, Moustafa Awada, Fatima Awada, Ali Aleiq, Abed al-Rahman Ajami, Nemer Jaber, Hassan Aleiq, Ali Kharoubi, Fatima Ali Sh'hadeh, Mohammed Ali Hamdan, Abed al-Hussein Qatbaie, Abdallah Yehia, Afifa Marouni, Jihad Hamdan, and Naefa Bashar".

Occupation forces ten days ago demolished six houses in the town which lies 8 kilometers to the south of Nabatieh.

"Only 35 people out of the 1200 residents now live in the town which has been deserted due to the "Israeli" blockade imposed on the villages since 1985".

"Those who are still living in the town can enter or get out of it only through a 50 cms dirt road which was built next to an iron gate at the town's entrance".

"An "Israeli" occupation forces' spokesperson acknowledged today that around 30 "Israeli" bulldozers destroyed the Arnoun houses, claiming that they were used by resistance men.

Furthermore, correspondents of various local and foreign newspapers reported that "Israeli" occupation soldiers stationed in Beaufort Castle opened fire on them during their coverage of the destroyed houses in Arnoun. The press delegation comprised correspondents of the British Times, the Daily Star, and As-Safir"… (1)

"Arnoun, 5 kilometers east of Nabatieh, lies in an uneasy no-man’s land between state authority and the occupation zone. The zone officially starts at a battered swing gate in the center of the village. The houses demolished Thursday stretched from 100 meters past the gate to halfway up the hill to Beaufort castle".

"The owners of the destroyed houses, none of whom were in the village at the time, visit their homes during the day but most live in Nabatieh".

"Ali Tawbe, 15, who with his mother and five siblings are the only family to live on the occupied side of the gate, said he ran out onto the balcony on hearing the rumble of bulldozers".

“We were scared that they might think no one lived in our house and they would tear it down,” he said.

Ali is the only breadwinner for his family, earning around LL500,000 a month as a cleaner for Nabatieh municipality. But his age and importance to his family are not safeguards against possible detention in Khiam prison.

“Two days ago I was stopped by an "Israeli" officer, who asked me if I had seen any resistance guerrillas. I told him I hadn’t, and he said that if I didn’t tell him the truth, he would take me to Khiam,” recalled Ali.

"His story was interrupted as two 120mm mortar rounds fired by the resistance exploded against the ramparts of the castle above the village. The sounds of the blasts echoed and re-echoed throughout the village, joined moments later by a disembodied but clearly audible voice barking orders in Hebrew over the castle’s loud speaker".

"The "Israelis" in Beaufort castle prevented reporters from taking close-up pictures of the demolished houses. Two reporters who attempted to obtain a closer look were fired upon with a heavy machine gun before they had ventured a few meters past the gate".

“Look at this place,” said a clearly angry and frustrated Afif Hamdan, Arnoun’s mukhtar, indicating the deserted streets. “No one lives here any more, its become impossible.”

Only around 40 residents remain in the village after most of the population walked out at the end of November, when water deliveries ceased.

“The "Israelis" are not allowing water to be delivered to us,” said a 50-year-old man who requested anonymity. “We are having to collect rain water now for drinking and washing. God knows what we’ll do when summer comes”... (2)

Hezbollah: Resistance can punish Zionist enemy… (3)
"Hezbollah underlined that the Resistance will punish the enemy for the crime of destroying houses in Arnoun village "with the appropriate means and at the appropriate time."

"Head of Hezbollah's political council MP Mohammed Raad said the Resistance which is confronting the Zionist occupation has to stress its ability to punish the invaders who are harming our people and soil; it will do so with its appropriate means and at the appropriate time".

"The "Israeli" aggressive and destructive crime of demolishing 18 houses in the brave town of Arnoun unveils the terrorist intentions of the entity which has usurped al-Quds and Palestine towards the peoples of the whole region, it also discloses the unreality of coexistence or settlement with the enemy", MP Raad said.

"He stressed that the international community has to voice its condemnation of this aggression.
The Lebanese people will not forgive those who suspiciously keep silent towards such terrorism", Raad said.

"The April Understanding Group is supposed to take a firm position regarding this Zionist barbaric act", he added.

Cabinet: "Israeli" aggressions will only increase our determination… (4)
"The cabinet today stated that the recent crime of demolishing houses by the "Israeli" enemy is a blatant violation of the April Understanding".

"The government held a session which was chaired by President Gen Emile Lahoud and attended by Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss and ministers at the Baabda Presidential Palace".

"Following the cabinet's meeting, Information Minister Anwar al- Khaleel, who announced the decisions adopted during the session, said the cabinet condemned the latest "Israeli" aggressive acts against Lebanese civilians, particularly the recent "Israeli" destruction of a number of houses in Arnoun.

Al-Khalil said PM al-Hoss will hold contacts to inform the international community about the "Israeli" acts".

"The minister quoted President Lahoud as saying, "The "Israeli" repeated aggressions will only increase our determination to uphold our right and clinging to our land besides adhering to unity of Lebanese-Syrian tracks".

1- Al-Manar TV, 7-1-1999.
2- The Daily Star, 8-1-1999.
3- Al-Manar TV, 7-1-1999.
4- Same source.

  January Sunday 10 -1999:

Occupation aggressions reach areas far from front lines; bombardment of power station
""Israeli" occupation's terrorist acts against liberated areas in the south and the western Beqaa
continued yesterday. Enemy targeted areas that are far from front lines in Caza (district) of Sidon as
"Israeli" shells hit and damaged a power station in Bisri at dawn today".

"A number of 155mm rounds landed in the vicinity of the power plant, one of them slammed the
station itself".

"Moreover, occupation forces shelled the area between Roumeen and Houmeen (Sidon Caza) and
the Arab al-Jal area. Several rounds also hit the Sarba-Roumeen highway. No casualties were
reported.

These areas are relatively far from the front lines. This was the first time they are shelled in a long
time".

""Israeli" artillery in Abu Qamha and al-Shraifeh pounded al-Daher Hilltop, Wadi Zellaya and
Meimas. Tal al-Zaa'tar, the outskirts of Baraasheet, Aita al-Jabel and Tibneen also received their
share of "Israeli" shelling emanating from the occupation's emplacement in Mhaibeeb. A house
belonging to Lebanese citizen Najib Farhat was destroyed as a result of the enemy shelling on
residential areas in Baraasheet.

Security bodies inspected the damaged house which may be the subject of an additional Lebanese
complaint to be lodged with the April Understanding Monitoring Group".

"The panel will convene in Naqoura on Monday to examine 4 Lebanese complaints and six "Israeli"
ones".

"Meanwhile, "Israeli" warplanes staged a number of over flights at low attitude over the locality of
Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Touffah"… (1)

For its part, the Islamic Resistance (IR) reported the following aggressions (2):
00:15, two flare shells were fired over the area between Majdal Selem and Shaqra town.
2:05, several 81mm flare shells were unleashed over the area between Majdal Selem and Shaqra.
3:05, the area between Shaqra and Houla was lightened by a number of 81mm flash shells.
5:40, Mount Sojod was hit by three 120mm shells.
5:55, two 120mm shells struck Mount Al-Rafih.
6:45, Mount Zaatar was targeted by four 155mm missiles, whereas the perimeters of Haddatha
town came under three others.
12:15, four 155mm missiles fell on the peripheries of Haddatha.
17:25, two rounds landed the southern perimeters of Roumeen village.

1- Al-Manar TV, 9-1-1999.
2- IR statement, 9-1-1999.

  January Monday 11 -1999:

Owners of ruinde houses stage sit-in and share  ordead Some residents intend to return to village despite intimidation..(1)

"Yumna Moussali, her nine children and 31 grandchildren had nowhere to sleep last week. "Israeli"
troops and South Lebanon Army* militiamen had bulldozed their two-story building in Arnoun. It
was one of 16 houses demolished Thursday in the second wave of aggression in the past two
weeks".

“We, the people of Arnoun, are the country’s living dead,” said Mrs. Moussali. “We have nothing in
common with the rest of the population. We are deprived of life’s most basic necessities, and live
under conditions similar to those in prisons,” she said.

“But we were still doing fine living there, because it was home,” she added.

Now, the families of her five daughters and six sons are living in rented homes in different parts of the
country, including Beirut, Nabatieh, Zawtar and Harouf. Mrs. Moussali, a 65-year-old widow, is
staying with a relative in Beirut’s suburbs.

Grieving families who lost their homes shared their ordeal at a sit-in Sunday at a Husseinieh in Hay
al-Sellom, and voiced their concerns about the future.

“I worked hard for many years to afford to build my house. It took the "Israelis" a few minutes to
knock it down,” said former Tobacco Regie employee Fatima Ajami, whose house was among the
16 demolished last Thursday.

“My hometown is a hundred times better than Beirut or any other city,” said Mrs. Ajami, also
widowed, who is now staying with her only daughter in Hay al-Sellom. “I would be willing to go
back and rebuild my house if the government pays me compensation.”

Occupation forces have been terrorizing Arnoun, which lies five kilometers east of Nabatieh, for
over a decade.

In late December, six houses were dynamited by the occupation forces. A statement from the
"Israeli" Army claimed that the buildings destroyed were used by the resistance “for bomb-planting
activities.”

The five-nation Monitoring Group will consider an official complaint lodged by the Lebanese
government at a meeting in Naqoura Monday.

“I never stopped caring for my land, and I certainly will not do so now,” said Insaf Karim, who lost
her house 15 years ago during attacks on the village. About two weeks ago, "Israeli" and SLA
soldiers destroyed her 125 olive trees.

“One day before they burned our fields, they unleashed their dogs while we were collecting olives,”
said Mrs. Karim. “"Israelis" are cowards, and the proof is their aggression against peaceful civilians,”
she added.

But for Fatima Jaber, returning to her three-room house, one of the few still standing in the village, is
not an option. She is not willing to risk the lives of her six children after her son Hassan, an Islamic
resistance fighter, died in combat 12 years ago. She now pays $250 a month to rent a small
apartment in the capital’s southern suburbs.

“My children are all I have left. I would never risk their lives or see "Israelis" take them away,” said
Mrs. Jaber. “I would rather be poor and hungry than become a mourning mother,” she added.
Mrs. Jaber’s fears are not unfounded. Five men from the village are detained at the Khiam camp,
including 15-year old Mustafa Taoube, the youngest Lebanese detainee.

But despite the bombardment, intimidation and harsh living conditions, other residents whose houses
were spared say they will go back.

“We don’t have money to go anywhere else,” said Fatima Maroun, a divorced mother of three. She
plans to return to Arnoun Tuesday after having spent the past 10 days with her sister in Hay
al-Sellom.

1- The Daily Star, 11-1-1999.
* 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.

  January Tuesday 12 -1999:

Levanese PM held US the responsibility of any "Israeli strike on Lebanon…(1)
"Prime Minister Salim Hoss expressed fears Monday of a "military aggression" against Lebanon
ahead of "Israel's" national elections in May and said only the United States could rein in the Jewish
state". "Only the United States is capable of preventing "Israeli" aggressions against Lebanese
infrastructure, such as electricity, water and road networks," Hoss told AFP. ""Israeli" occupation of
a part of Lebanon is one of the main issues worrying the "Israeli" society and one of the main issues
at stake in the electoral campaign," he said. "This is why we do not exclude the chance of "Israel"
carrying out an act of aggression against Lebanon." His remarks came after a recent escalation of
"Israeli" -Hizbullah violence which has raised fears embattled "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu could use the southern Lebanon issue to boost his stature before the elections.
Netanyahu is "killing innocent people, women and children for the sake of his electoral campaign,"
said former Lebanese foreign minister Fares Bweiz. The situation brings back horrific memories of
April 1996, just before the Jewish state's last general elections, when then prime minister Shimon
Peres waged a major two-week offensive in Lebanon. The 17-day "Grapes of Wrath" onslaught left
175 dead, most of them civilians. That operation was officially meant to "crush" Hizbullah, but it was
clear that Peres wanted to prove to the "Israeli" electorate an intransigence in matters of security
equal to that of Netanyahu, who defeated him". "Now the tables have turned and many fear a
weakened Netanyahu -- who after the collapse of his ruling coalition was forced to call for May
elections -- will unleash a tough military campaign on Lebanon".

"Israeli" surfers assault Hizbullah internet site… (2)
" "Israeli" Internet surfers have been bombarding the web site of the Hizbullah, the main resistance
group fighting "Israel's" occupation of south Lebanon, a Beirut daily said Monday. "Death to
Hizbullah. We will kill you all," read an extract of an e-mail sent by an "Israeli" surfer on December
8, a day after a Hizbullah attack, the As-Safir newspaper reported. The number of e-mails and their
tone, mostly threatening, varies according to the military situation in southern Lebanon, the paper
said. "Please stop using explosive charges. Death is following us at every step that we make in
southern Lebanon," said an e-mail signed by an ""Israeli" soldier in southern Lebanon" sent
December 17, a day after a Hizbullah bombing in the area killed three soldiers and wounded four
others. But there are also e-mails carrying hostile religious attacks: "The Jews are the rulers of the
world. Death to our enemies ... we will liquidate all the Arabs," said one of the messages. A
Hizbullah spokesman said the group received several messages from "Israel" nearly every day on its
site (www.Hizbullah.org), mostly signed by "Israeli" soldiers. But it is a "one-way" conversation, as
Hizbullah which does not recognize the "Zionist entity," refuses to answer any of the messages. "We
only receive the messages, and we never answer. It helps us to have a feel of the "Israeli" public
opinion and of the size of the opposition there to the occupation of southern Lebanon," said the
Hizbullah spokesman".

Monitoring group discusses truce violations; "Israel" attacks infrastructure in east and
south… (3)
" The 1996 cease-fire monitoring group is at this hour discussing complaints filed by Lebanon and
"Israel" over alleged truce violations. The committee will discuss a recent wave of "Israeli" attacks on
civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon.

" The international committee monitoring the cease-fire in south Lebanon is meeting to discuss eight
Lebanese and five "Israeli" complaints of truce violations. The panel in its first meeting this year,
convened at the United Nations headquarters in the coastal town of Naqoura on the
"Israeli"-Lebanese border. Lebanon is accusing "Israel" of eight violations of the April 1996
cease-fire agreement not to attack civilians or launch assaults from civilian areas. Lebanon protested
the expulsion of 25 villagers from occupied Shibaa, the demolition of scores of houses in the
front-line village of Arnoun, the attack on the Bisri power station, shelling that damaged a house in
Baraachite, and two civilian casualties during a raid on the Bekaa Valley last week. The committee
will also discuss five complaints filed by "Israel", claiming the resistance of firing shells on northern
"Israel", killing a civilian in the occupation zone and launching attacks from civilian regions. A source
in Hizbollah had called on the truce panel to issue a clear condemnation against "Israeli" aggressions,
adding the committee should distance itself from the policy of equating aggressors with victims. There has been concern in Lebanon over "Israel's" heightened aggressions in the past two weeks,
coinciding with a tough electoral campaign in the Jewish state. "Israeli" artillery fire rocked several
regions of Lebanon on Sunday, damaging infrastructure facilities as well as four houses and two cars.
Some 40 shells fell on the eastern Bekaa Valley, cutting a major power line that supplies electricity to the area as well as the majority of villages in occupied south Lebanon".

"Police said that in Zilaya, along the border of the eastern part of the occupation zone,
drinking-water pipelines were damaged along with three houses. Further west the "Israeli" shelling
damaged two cars in Nabatiyeh as well as a house in the town of Arabsalim".

Enemy targets south with scores of shells; stages raids and mock raids
""Israeli" occupation forces launched more aggressions on liberated areas firing scores of heavy
rounds while enemy warplanes violated the Lebanese airspace launching several raids and mock
raids over Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Touffah".

"Occupation forces in the outpost of al-Shraifeh and Zaffateh today bombarded with a number of
155mm rounds the outskirts of Yohmor, Mazra'at al-Hamra, Hima Arnoun, the deserted army
barracks in Nabatieh, the Litani River banks, and the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharkieh".

"Moreover, the vicinity of the town of al-Sarai in Jezzine and the Hariri compounds (near the
Kfarfalous crossing) were shelled by the proxy militia".

"Enemy warplanes staged seven raids, three of them within 15 minutes, on the Mazraat Sojod area
and other areas in Iqlim al-Touffah".

""Israeli" aircraft fired air-to-ground missiles and was intercepted by anti-aircraft fire from the
Lebanese army and the Islamic Resistance, barring it from achieving its goals".

"At night enemy warplanes flew at low altitude in the skies of Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Touffah staging
mock air raids".

"Earlier today, the proxy militia's artillery in Jezzine outposts (at 15:30) bombarded the outskirts of
Sfarieh, Joun (Iqlim al-Kharoub), and the Hariri compounds near the Kfarfalous outpost"… (4)

For its part, the IR communique reported more "Israeli" aggressions:
13:45, one 105mm round hit Rahrah area, while at the same time, the surroundings of Chiheen
position exposed to a various kinds of machine guns fire.
14:00, one 155mm missile struck the deserted Lebanese Army barracks of Nabatieh.
14:15, Mazraat Hamra was targeted by three 155mm missiles.
15:05, two 155mm missiles landed the perimeters of Boslaya village and near its houses.
15:15, three 155mm missiles hit the peripheries of Kfar Falous crossing point and two others struck
the surroundings of Kfar Falous installations.
15:35, the perimeters of Berta village subjected to two 155mm missiles.
Between 16:00 and 16:45, twenty three 120mm shells pounded in and around Jibaa town.
17:15, the road linking between Zillaya and Yohmor, Dallafeh crossroad, Naameh Hill and Litani
River watercourse came under thirty five 105and 120mm rounds... (5)

1- AFP, 11-1-1999.
2- Future TV, 11-1-1999.
3- Same source.
4- Al-Manar TV, 11-1-1999.
5- IR statement, 11-1-1999.

  January Wednesday 13 -1999:

Monitors are deadlocked over Arnoun complaint
"With a record 15 complaints to consider, the five-nation monitoring group remained deadlocked
Tuesday night with the Lebanese and "Israeli" delegates at odds over apportioning blame for the
demolition of 22 houses in Arnoun".

"The impasse came amid reports that the U.S. has asked Prime Minister Salim Hoss to acquiesce in
favor of the "Israeli" view over Arnoun in a bid to reduce the tense climate in the south".

"The Lebanese delegate, Colonel Maher Toufeili, is pushing for the group to condemn "Israel" for
bulldozing 22 uninhabited houses in Arnoun on two occasions in the past two weeks.

The "Israeli" delegate, Brigadier General Daniel Arditi, insists that the deliberate destruction of
houses to prevent them from being used as bases for resistance operations does not fall under the
April Understanding."

"The Monitoring Group convened in Naqoura Monday morning to hear 13 complaints, eight filed by
Lebanon and five by "Israel"".

"Two more complaints were added Tuesday following the unclaimed mortar bombardment of Roum
and the South Lebanon Army’s* shelling of Bisri".

"All the complaints, with the exception of Arnoun, were dealt with swiftly, said a source close to the
meeting".

"He added that the stalemate between Colonel Toufeili and General Arditi and the generally tense
atmosphere in the south had apparently prompted U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield to ask Mr.
Hoss that Lebanon back down over Arnoun'.

"Mr. Satterfield was unavailable to comment Tuesday night, as was the prime minister.
Regardless of possible pressure from Washington, General Arditi’s assertion that destroying houses
falls outside the remit of the April Understanding is contradicted by a previous decision of the
Group.

During a meeting Feb. 17-20 last year, the delegates concluded that the dynamiting of an uninhabited
house in Nabatieh al-Faouqa by "Israeli" commandos “was not defensive counterfire and is a
violation of the understanding.”

"Whether this precedent has any impact remains to be seen. The Monitoring Group is not a legal
institution and is wholly subject to the variables of political fortune"… (1)
However, the Islamic Resistance (IR) communiqué reported the following "Israeli" aggressions on
Lebanon's areas (2):

Between 00:05 and 3:05, Slouqi Valley was bombarded by nineteen 120mm shells.
00:05, three 81mm rounds hit the perimeters of Shaqra town.
00:10, three 81mm shells struck the peripheries of Majdal Selem town.
1:00, Mazraat Hamra was targeted by five 105mm rounds.
Between 12:00 and 14:30, Mount Sojod was bombarded by twenty nine 120mm shells.
13:05, six 155mm missiles slammed the deserted Lebanese Army barracks of Nabatieh.
13:30, the perimeters of Habboush town subjected to three 155mm missiles.
14:50, one 120mm shell landed Oqmata area.
14:55, the surroundings of Houla position exposed to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun
rounds. At the same time, Oqmata plain was targeted by five 120mm shells.
15:30, Mazraat Hamra was shelled by three 155mm missiles.
16:15, two 155mm missiles struck Mount Sojod.
17:35, the area between Shaqra and Majdal Selem came under four 155mm missiles.
17:40, Qaissieh Valley was shelled by two 155mm missiles.
20:10, three 120mm shells hit Mount Al-Rafih, whereas the surroundings of Sojod outpost exposed
to a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
20:40, Mount Safi was bombarded by nine 155mm missiles.
21:25, the Israeli warplanes raided into the mountains of Sojod and Al-Rafih. At the same time, two
120mm shells slammed Mount Sojod.
21:40 , Sojod village was targeted by two 120mm shells.
22:45, fifteen 155mm missiles pounded Mlita Hill.
23:05, Mount Sojod was shelled by three 155mm missiles.
23:20, the "Israeli" jets conducted air raid into Mlita Hill. Meanwhile, Mount Sojod was targeted by
four 120mm shells, whereas several flare shells were fired over Litani River watercourse.

"Israel" sets up sea radars tighten blockade on South Lebanon… (3)
"Lebanese fishermen are predicting even more difficult times ahead in the "cat and mouse" game they
have been playing with the "Israeli" navy for the past six years. They say the "Israelis have set up
offshore radars in south Lebanon's territorial waters to prevent fishermen from breaching a
six-year-old sea blockade by sailing at night. One reported seeing satellite dishes fixed to floating
barrels and buoys, complete with television screen and antennae, about four kilometers (2.5 miles)
off the port of Naqoura. Rida, a father of five, and one of 500 fishermen in the southern port city of
Tyre, is nervous when he casts his nets each evening even one kilometer (half a mile) off shore.

There is a real risk of being detained, even tortured or shot. "As soon as they see our fishing boats
from their warships, the "Israelis, who are equipped with infra-red binoculars, approach or send their
inflatable to arrest us," he told AFP. That is what happened on Saturday, to brothers Ahmad and
Hussein Taha, aged 26 and 27. They did not get away quickly enough, and were detained and
interrogated for seven hours before being released. Abbas, another fisherman from Tyre, has had the
same experience. He tells how he had to swim for more than two miles in freezing water, while the
"Israelis sprayed him with hot oil through hoses and bombarded him with rotten eggs, after which
they arrested him and took him on board of their patrol boat".

"He was stripped to his underwear and a bag was put over his head. Sailors beat him with
sand-filled tubes as he was interrogated. They took him to a cabin, which contained a detailed map
of Tyre and where he was interrogated by navy officers about Lebanese army activities. "They
promised me the earth and even said I would get permission to fish off the (northern "Israeli") port of
Haifa if I provided them with information on a failed suicide operation two years ago against the
"Israeli" navy," Abbas added. On that occasion a would-be suicide bomber of the Amal movement
was killed by a shell before his explosive-packed boat could reach its target. Abbas and other
fishermen know that they risk the same fate if they want to continue fishing activities, said Mohamad
Bawab, head of the fishermen's union in Tyre. Since "Israel" imposed a partial sea blockade on
southern Lebanese coasts, scores of fishermen have been injured by the "Israeli" navy. Twenty-one
of them have been left permanently handicapped, according to Tyre port statistics. Ibrahim
Muslimani, a fisherman who still has a bullet lodged in his shoulder, succeeded in securing a job at
the Tyre port but many others like Hassan Tahan, 40, and Majed Bawab, 26, who were more
severely injured, remain unemployed".

1- The Daily Star, 13-1-1999.
2- IR statement, 12-1-1999.
3- Future TV, 12-1-1999.
* 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.

  January Friday 15 -1999:

Monitors finally decide that blowing up houses is wrong… (1)
"After four days of intense debate, the Monitoring Group ruled Thursday that the demolition of
civilian homes is contrary to the April Understanding and accused "Israel" of violating the agreement
by destroying 23 houses in Arnoun".

"In a record session lasting 75 uninterrupted hours, the group, consisting of delegates from Lebanon,
Syria, France, "Israel" and the U.S., assessed a total 16 complaints, 10 filed by Lebanon and six by
"Israel". But it was the two Lebanese complaints over the demolition of buildings in Arnoun Dec. 27
and Jan. 7 that bogged down the proceedings"

"The Lebanese delegate, Colonel Maher Toufeili, was reportedly anxious that a failure to designate
the demolitions a violation of the understanding would lead to further homes being destroyed in
front-line villages"

"The "Israeli" delegate, Brigadier General Daniel Arditi, contended that the houses were used to
store weapons and bomb-making equipment and that their demolition was therefore justified".

"But the group chose to honor a precedent set in February last year when "Israel" was judged to
have violated the understanding by blowing up an uninhabited house on the outskirts of Nabatieh
Faouqa".

“Keeping in mind its previous decisions, the Monitoring Group concluded that demolition actions
against civilian property are in violation of the understanding,” the final statement said. The group
added “that this conclusion, however, does not invalidate the concerns and positions of the parties
regarding the use of civilian property in military operations.”

""Israel" was also blamed for six other violations of the understanding, including the wounding of six
civilians in Janta during an air raid Jan. 3"

No blame was attached to the expulsion of 25 residents from Shebaa, as “there are differing views
on whether the expulsion of civilians falls within the purview of the understanding.”
post".

"Israeli" bombardment on Iqlim al-Touffah, terrorist practices in Shibaa
"The "Israeli" occupation's artillery in the outposts of al-Zaffateh and al-Aishieh today bombarded
Mount al-Rafieh, Nabeh al-Tasseh, al-Lwaizeh woods, Sojod, Rihan, and Mazraat Oqmata".

""Israeli" warplanes flew over Nabatieh and Iqlim al-Touffah staging mock air raids.
In the occupied zone, occupation forces detained Rida Hassan al-Taweel from his hometown
Kfarkilla. He was taken to al-Khiam detention center".

"Moreover, enemy forces' arbitrary practices against the residents of occupied Shibaa went on after
the crime of expelling 25 people from the town last week".

"The occupation is now trying to sow seeds of unrest among the residents by spreading rumors
about the killing of collaborator Ghassan Daher".

"There was a fierce argument between the town's imam Sheikh Ismail Dallah and the occupation's
intelligence which the imam accused of killing Daher and trying to create unrest in the town.
Occupation forces has recently summoned a number of the town's influential figures, including Sheikh
Dallah, to the "security center" in Hasbayya"… (2)

However, the Islamic Resistance (IR) issued a communiqué in which it mentioned the following
"Israeli" aggressions (3):
00:20, the surroundings of the new Houla subjected to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
00:40, one 155mm missile struck west of Yater village.
00:55, Haris ravine was targeted by two 155mm missiles.
6:40, several 155mm missiles slammed Qaissieh Valley.
6:45, Mazraat Hamra was shelled by a number of 155mm missiles.
8:30, two 120mm shells struck the perimeters of Loweizeh village.
11:25, south of Jibal El-Botom village was hit by two 155mm missiles.
Between 11:55 and 12:15, Oyoun ravine was bombarded by fourteen 155mm missiles.
13:00, seven 155mm missiles fell on Tasseh Mount.
Between 13:15 and 13:25, seventeen 155mm missiles pounded Mount Sojod.
14:15, Sojod village was shelled by seven 155mm missiles.
14:20, two 155mm missiles landed Mount Al-Rafih.
14:25, Oyoun ravine came under ten 155mm missiles.
14:45, three 155mm missiles fell on Qaissieh Valley.

Army ready to respond to aggressions, says chief … (4)
"Army chief Gen Michel Suleiman ordered his troops to maintain practical readiness to respond to
"Israeli" aggressions".

"During a tour on army units in the south, Suleiman commended the armed forces' steadfastness and
sacrifices at the front".

""Israeli" threats will not prevent us from practicing our legitimate right or defending our soil, said
Suleiman who rejected any negotiations or security arrangements that ""Israel"" is seeking to get rid
of the quagmire caused by its occupation in order to achieve electoral goals".

"Peace must be just and comprehensive through withdrawal from the south and the Golan Heights
and solving the existing problems including the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their
homeland", Suleiman added.

"The army chief underlined his intention to stick to the method of his predecessor, president Emile
Lahoud, in rebuilding the army and its defense and security performance, besides its role in defending
the south and the western Beqaa".

"The general's tour included the southern area command at the Mohammed Zagheib barracks in
Sidon and the bases along the confrontation lines with the "Israeli" enemy in East of Sidon and Iqlim
al-Touffah"

1- The Daily Star, 15-1-1999.
2- Al-Manar TV, 14-1-1999.
3- IR statement, 14-1-1999.
4- Al-Manar TV, 14-1-1999.

  January Saturday 16 -1999:

"Israeli" shelling damages two homes
" "Israeli" attacks have so far damaged two homes in southern Lebanon. "Israeli" warplanes and
artillery have intensified it assaults on the Iqlim al-Tuffah mountain ridge and on areas close to the
occupation zone. The resistance commemorated Al-Qodus or Jerusalem Day, by launching a series
of attacks on "Israeli" occupation outposts."

" "Israel" stepped up attacks on the Iqlim al-Tuffah mountain ridge. Two homes were damaged in the
"Israeli" bombardment. At Sawaneh, west of the area "Israel" occupies in the south, the home of Ali
Abdel Karim Sultan was destroyed by "Israeli" shelling. In Sarba, east of the port city of Sidon, the
family Jihad Hanna Khawan, made what has been called a miraculous escape, as they fled their
home when "Israeli" shells slammed into it. The home was damaged. In Iqlim al-Tuffah, which has
been targeted by "Israeli" gunners lately, some eighty shells fell on the Soujod hills and Mazraat
Iqmata. Heavy gunfire exchange also took part between resistance fighters and occupation troops in
the area. The outskirts of Majdal Zoun and Mansoureh were not spared the "Israeli" assault. In the
western Bekaa, Jabal al-Daher, Zilaya valley, and Kilya were also bombarded. "Israel's" allied
militia, combed the main road connecting the occupied towns of Shibaa and Shwaya after it found
two roadside bombs there"… (1)

For its part, the IR issued a statement in which it recorded the following "Israeli" aggressions (2):
5:10, five 81mm rounds hit Oqmata plain, whereas the surroundings of Sojod and Bir Kallab
outposts subjected to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
Between 5:30 and 6:10, Mount Al-Rafih was bombarded by twenty 155mm missiles, when on the
other hand, Mount Sojod was targeted by four 120mm shells.
Between 5:30, and 7:10, the west of Yater and south of Jibal El-Botom came under sixty five
rounds.
Between 5:35 and 6:15, more than twenty 155mm missiles struck Qaissieh Valley.
5:50, Jib Soweid area was shelled by five 155mm missiles.
6:00, three 155mm missiles slammed into south of Jibal El-Botom.
6:15, Mount Sojod was targeted by four 120mm shells.
6:20, two 155mm missiles landed the road of Jibal El-Botom.
6:25, Mount Al-Rafih was shelled by four 155mm missiles, whereas Mount Sojod was targeted by
one 120mm shell.
6:30, two 155mm missiles fell on south of Jibal El-Botom.
6:35, Litani River watercourse and Zillaya Valley came under ten 175mm missiles.
6:50, Dallafeh and Qilya perimeters, Daidabeh highlands and the 910th Hill subjected to fifteen
120mm shells.
6:55, six 155mm missiles slammed into south of Jibal El-Botom.
7:00, Tamerieh ravine subjected to a number of 120mm shells.
7:15, the perimetes of Khorbet Selem town came under five 155mm missiles, whereas Hojeir Valley
subjected to three 155mm missiles. Meanwhile, Tasseh Well watercourse exposed to a number of
120mm shells.
7:20, eighty 120,155 and 175mm missiles pounded Dallafeh peripheries, Zillaya ravine, Litani River
banks, Daidabeh heights and the 910th Hill.
7:30, Sawaneh village came under four 120mm shells, one of which hit Ali Abdel-Karim Sultan's
house. His nine-member family narrowly escaped death. At the same time, the perimeters of
Loweizeh village subjected to seven 155mm missiles and four 120mm shells, when on the other
hand, three 120mm shells landed Mount Sojod.
7:45, three 120mm shells struck Mlita village.
7:55, Hojeir Valley was bombarded by a lot of 81, 120 and 155mm rounds.
8:00, the peripheries of Jibaa town subjected to four 155mm missiles.
Between 8:20 and 8:45, the perimeters of Loweizeh village came under twenty 120 and 155mm
missiles causing damage to the electric current network.
8:30, the "Israeli" warplanes raided into Mlita Hill firing one air-to-ground missile.
8:40, the surroundings of Sojod outpost exposed a barrage of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
Between 8:50 and 10:00, the peripheries of Loweizeh village subjected to six 155mm missiles and
five 120mm shells.
9:15, one 120mm shell fell on Mount Sojod.
9:45, eight 120mm shells and one 155mm missiles slammed Tasseh Well banks.
12:20, Rihayat Hill was shelled by ten 175mm missiles.
16:15, two 120mm shells and one 155mm missile hit Mount Al-Rafih.
16:30, the west of Yater and Oyoun ravine came under ten 155mm missiles.
16:55, twenty five 155mm missiles pounded west of Yater village.

1- Future TV, 15-1-1999.
2- IR statement, 15-1-1999.

  January Sunday 17 -1999:

"Israeli" aggressions damaged two houses in Haddatha… (1)
""Israeli" occupation forces proceeded with their daily aggressions and violations of the April
Understanding against areas in the south and the western Beqaa".

"The occupation's artillery this morning bombarded residential areas in the town of Haddatha
inflicting damage on two houses, belonging to Hussein Nasser and Ibrahim Nasser, and several
cars".

"The bombardment also covered all the mid and western sectors' villages that are adjacent to the
occupied zone, especially Yatar, Kafra, Harees, Aita al-Jabal, al-Mansouri, and Majdel Zoen."

"After 8:00 a.m. enemy warplanes staged two raids on Mleta Hilltop and Tair Harfa (western
sector)".

"Moreover, "Israeli" shells slammed Zawtar al-Sharqieh and Zawtar al-Gharbieh, the outskirts of
Yohmor, the Mrabaa area, the woods of Maifadoun whose schools were closed when some
"Israeli" rounds hit the town's public school."

"Occupation forces also bombarded the deserted army barracks in Nabatieh, the Zahrani River
banks, and the Iqlim al-Touffah Hilltops".

"In Hasbayya, an "Israeli" tank opened fire on a group of villagers. No casualties were reported."
"To the opposite of the Tyre port, "Israeli" gunboats intercepted a freighter laden with merchandise
bound for the town. The ship was thoroughly searched for hours on end."

"Lebanon today (yesterday) filed two complaints with the April Understanding Monitoring Group
over the occupation's bombardment of the towns of Sarba (Friday) and al-Sawwaneh (Thursday)
which resulted in damaging houses and property".

"On the other hand, The Islamic Resistance's (IR) squad of Martyr Faraj Ballouq at 21:00 Friday
attacked enemy movements in the "Israeli" occupation's outpost in al-Swaidaa with the appropriate
weapons, scoring direct hits".

1-Al-Manar TV, 16-1-1999.

  January Friday 22 -1999:

"Israeli" bombardment and raids, AUMG convenes next week
""Israeli" occupation forces at noon today (yesterday) bombarded the Mount al-Dahr area (western
Beqaa) while enemy warplanes staged mock air raids over al-Bizzalieh (northern Beqaa). "Israeli"
aircraft also flew over Baalbek breaking the sound barrier".

"In the south, "Israeli" warplanes flew at low altitude over the areas of Tyre, Bint Jbeil, and
Nabatieh.

Wednesday morning, "Israeli" artillery bombarded the eastern hilltops of upper Nabatieh and
Kfarromman along with the vicinity of the deserted army barracks in Nabatieh".

Meanwhile, enemy forces raked the targeted areas with heavy and medium machine guns.
In the afternoon, the vicinity of the Hammad and Hamra farms, the Yohmor Shqief, and the
Kfartibneet woods were bombarded from the enemy's outpost in Beaufort Castle".

"The occupation forces in Blatt, Hardoun and Bayyada Tuesday morning shelled the villages of
Mansouri, Majdel Zoen, Byout al-Siyyad, al-Medfneh area, and Yater".

"Moreover, the Radar outpost raked the residential areas in the town of Mansouri, while "Israeli"
shells landed in Wadi al-Izzieh and the outskirts of Zibqeen".

"On the other hand, the April Understanding Monitoring Group is to convene next week to discuss
three Lebanese complaints over the occupation forces' bombardment of the towns of Sarba,
al-Sawwaneh, and Haddatha. The "Israeli" aggressions caused damage in several houses"… (1)

However, the Islamic Resistance (IR) mentioned, in its communiqué the following "Israeli" aggressions (2):

Between 11:25 and 11:50, Daidaba hilltops came under six 120mm shells and three 105mm
rounds.
11:55, eight 120mm shells pounded into the surroundings of Dallafeh.
15:40, the perimeters of Sojod village exposed to thirteen 155mm missiles, whereas the southern
peripheries of Qilya and the 910th Hill subjected to fifteen 155mm missiles and fifteen 160mm
rounds.
15:50, Daidaba area was shelled by ten 130mm rounds.
16:25, the crossroad of Dallafeh was bombarded fifteen 120mm shells.

1- Al-Manar TV, 21-1-1999.
2- IR statement, 21-1-1999.

  January Saturday 23 -1999:

Bombardment and sea aggressions on liberated southern and western Beqaa areas
""Israeli" occupation forces today (yesterday) launched ground and sea aggressions".
"With the early morning hours, "Israeli" shells hit the vicinity of Shaqra, Baraahseet and Majdel
Selim.

Furthermore, "Israeli" artillery in the morning bombarded the woods of al-Mansouri, Majdel Zoen,
Zibqeen, Yatar with around 30 120mm and 155mm rounds, while enemy heavy machine guns
combed the targeted areas".

"In the afternoon, the occupation's artillery bombarded the vicinity of Qilia, Wadi Zillaya and Jabal
al-Daher (Western Beqaa)".

"In the meantime , the occupation's navy  proceeded with harassing Lebanese fishermen near the Tyre coast."

"Israeli" gunboats today (yesterday) chased away a number of fishing boats off the Qlaileh shore
(south of Tyre) firing heavy machine-gun shots at them".

"One of the boats was hit. Fishermen Hassan Qawar and Hussein Ghanem who were on board
miraculously escaped death"… (1)

However, the IR mentioned in its statement the following "Israeli" aggressions (2):
1:15, Qaissieh Valley was shelled by five 155mm missiles.
6:25, south of Jibal El-Botom subjected to five 155mm missiles.
6:35, four 155mm missiles hit Jib Soweid area.
8:10, Mount Al-Rafih was targeted by three 155mm missiles.
8:25, the surroundings of Blat position exposed to a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds.
8:30, seven 155mm missiles fell on south of Jibal El-Botom and five others on the area between
Zibqeen and Chaitieh villages.
9:40, one 155mm missile struck Mount Abou Rkab.
Between 10:35 and 11:00, four 120mm shells hit Sojod village.
11:25, Mount Al-Rafih was shelled by one 155mm missile.
11:30, three 155mm missiles slammed into the perimeters of Sojod village.
12:25, the enemy emplacement bombarded Qilya, Dallafeh, the road of Zillaya, Daidaba hilltops, Bir
Dahr, the 910th Hill, Mount General and Naameh Hill with more than eighty 155, 160 and 175mm
missiles.
13:15, Sraireh hilltops came under four 160mm missiles and four 155mm rounds.
14:15, Litani River watercourse near Shraifeh area was bombarded by twenty rounds whereas Bir
Dahr area was shelled by ten 160mm missiles.
Between 15:00 and 16:55, fourteen 120mm shells and four 160mm missiles pounded into Mount
Sojod.
16:45, the perimeters of Loweizeh village came under twenty 155mm missiles.

1-Al-Manar TV, 22-1-1999.
2-IR statement, 22-1-1999.

  January Tuesday 26 -1999:

AUMG: "Israel" violated the understanding… (1)
"The April Understanding Monitoring Group (AUMG) today (yesterday) examined five complaints,
four of them lodged by Lebanon over the "Israeli" occupation's bombardment of the towns of
Haddatha, al-Sawwaneh, Sarba and Zillaya which resulted in damaging several houses and other
properties".

"The "Israeli" occupation claimed that resistance men have fired on an occupation outpost from within
the town of Haddatha".

"The "Israeli" enemy has deliberately included this claim in spite of its baselessness, in order to have
one complaint in the face of the Lebanese complaints", Lebanese security sources said.
"Following the meeting, AUMG acknowledged the four Lebanese complaints, affirming that the
"Israeli" bombardment violated the 1996 April Understanding."

"Concerning the complaints over the Haddatha shelling, the panel included in its statement the points
of view of the Lebanese and "Israeli" sides."

1- Al-Manar TV, 25-1-1999.

  January Saturday 30 -1999:

Bomb with Hebrew inscriptions explodes in Habboush…(1)
"A roadside bomb was detonated near Nabatieh before dawn Friday. The explosion caused severe
damage to the road and adjacent power cables. No casualties were reported, though", a security
official said.

"The blast at al-Sit Zoubeidah Bridge on the Arab Salim-Habboush road took place around 2 A.M.
and left a 50-centimeter-deep hole in the ground".

"Around dawn, soldiers and policemen arrived in the area to begin their investigation. They said the
TNT explosive was camouflaged in fiberglass to resemble rock; its weight was estimated at 25
kilograms, according to the source".

"Since the camouflage replicated that of at least six other roadside bombs planted by "Israeli"
occupation troops in recent years, the source said the explosive “was almost certainly planted by
them.”

The source added: “The explosive was probably detonated by remote control from the nearby
Sweida post, about a kilometer away, which is manned by occupation troops.”
"The explosion took place while an "Israeli" MK reconnaissance drone was flying over the area", the
source said.

1- The Daily Star, 30 -1-1999.