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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
IDF ditches plans to reach Litani River
2006-08-07
I'm getting the impression that Olmert, not the IDF, is horribly out of his depth.
After completing the creation of a security zone in southern Lebanon and with diplomatic pressure mounting, the IDF, senior defense officials revealed Sunday, did not plan to move ground troops northwards towards the Litani River - a line initially named as the IDF's final destination in this current ground incursion.

Meanwhile Sunday, five Golani soldiers were wounded after a bomb went off when they stormed a home in the Lebanese town of Mahbeeb. The wounded soldiers were evacuated to safety and then taken to Rambam Hospital in Haifa for further medical treatment. Five other soldiers were wounded, one moderately and four lightly, during heavy clashes between IDF reservists and Hizbullah guerillas in the southern Lebanese village of Ras al-Baida. The troops from Brigade 609 killed over 35 Hizbullah gunmen since Friday and succeeded in destroying at least three Katyusha rocket launchers hidden in the village. Another soldier suffered moderate wounds when an anti-tank rocket hit his D-9 bulldozer near the village of Kila, west of Metulla. IDF troops took three Hizbullah guerrillas captives during operations in southern Lebanon overnight Saturday. The fighting that continued on Sunday took place in the 20 some villages IDF troops had taken up positions in over the weekend as they finished recreating the 10-kilometer-deep security zone Israel held during its 18-year presence in Lebanon which ended in 2000.
Posted by:Fred

#14  Smart move. Having to post at a fixed line of control wouldn't be easy. Maintaining a 5 mile - or whatever - kill and destroy zone would be a better exercise of options.
Posted by: Snease Shaiting3550   2006-08-07 16:50  

#13  Just like when they stopped at the border, another tactical pause. Not to worry folks the Litani River will be Kosher before long!
Posted by: 49 Pan   2006-08-07 15:54  

#12  Nope. Disagree here. The IDF has a different plan in place. It is playing Chess while Hezbollah tries to play poker.

Hezbos could foil Israel's strategy, which is to compel over-confident Hezbo-nutters to fight from defensive positions in towns like Bint Jbeil, by playing their hand with a long-range missile strike at Tel Aviv. If that happens, all hell break loose and those wishing for an IDF drive to and beyond Litani will get their wish.

For now, Israel's playing it right. We have seen a number of bold, deep commando strikes that have resulted in an estimated 17-20 dead Hezbos and about six POWs without the loss of a single Israeli commando.

Airstrikes are hitting larger launchers almost within minutes of an attack. Today, Fox News reported that IDF has killed 40 Hezbos in ground fighting in and around Bint Jbeil in the past 24 hours. Hezbos are adopting what appears to be an Iwo Jima strategy. They've invested so much symbolism in Bint Jbeil and other border towns that they've stupidly decided to face IDF head-on.
Posted by: Lancasters Over Dresden   2006-08-07 10:59  

#11  its not the MSM theyre worrying about, its the reaction in the US and Europe, which are in turn under pressure from the region.

Theres nothing magic about the Litani. They have to weigh the loss of their most precious resouce, Israeli troops, against the gains from pushing a few more miles, and killing some more terrorists.

There does seem to have been some confusion surrounding the planning and execution of this war, but its not at all clear to me that its the fault of Olmert and Peretz, as opposed to Halutz. I know Krauthammer is inclined to blame Olmert, probably hoping for the return of his beloved Bibi, but Krauts no military expert. Too many armchair strategists waving around marches to the Litani, and to Beirut, from their keyboards, without facing the real material and diplomatic costs Israel faces.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2006-08-07 10:09  

#10  They had an election, and they chose to stay with leftists, pacifists, socialists. They could have elected Bebe.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-07 09:04  

#9  Hezb'Allah / Iran waited until Sharon was not only incapacitated, but had a compromise, weaker successor in place before launching their attacks.
Posted by: lotp   2006-08-07 09:02  

#8  I'm getting the impression that Olmert, not the IDF, is horribly out of his depth.

Careful about expressing such dark and depressing thoughts. But Condi will make another trip to stop the wobbling and kep the IDF on track.

It's a real shame Israel did not have political leadership equal to the challenge. I suspect they could have cleaned Hesb'Allah out much more quickly and thoroughly.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-08-07 08:28  

#7  So Olmert is playing the media game while the IDF sets up another mssion ? Could be. In fact, I hope that's the case because he does it so well. The MSM will be zigging and zagging, photoshopping their way to an Israeli defeat while Israel buries the Hezbs. Works for me.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-07 07:28  

#6  I disagree - i think the IDF will push up to the Latani River. They been playing the MSN guys like a violin the IDF have. Stupid reporters here from the UK based out there and the so called 'experts' on tv, Keith Graves on Sky news for one have all been utterly proved wrong so far, whilst not realising the important details such as IDF forces punching through several KM's over the border then wrapping around and trapping Hezbollocks in pockets. All of these crucial details either slip through the small brains of reporters or they simply choose to ignore the actual Stratigic and tactical moves that the IDF have taken . Personally i think there fckin just clueless to it. Some Journo's on Sky t.v on day 2 , yes just day 2 of this war were saying ' Already Israel cannot seem to defeat the Hexbollocks' - two fckin days two fckin days, yeah imagine in WW2 a reporter saying that. 'Two days of fighting with Germany and still no sign of victory'. The small minded simplistic ness of the MSN is simply jaw dropping! Keith graves like i say on Sky news is one of the greatest examples of Buffonary and stupidity - He claimed outright on day 1 'the IDF will not cross the border to lebenon, absolulty no way' next fcking hour they did cross the border and ever single one of his crystal ball like predications have been so far off the mark its not even funny. Yet after weeks of emailing sky to point out the fact they have a so called 'expert' who gets every single prediction wrong by a massive mark i simply get repliys from Sky News telling me nicely 'Mr Graves has been there 25 years his Knowladge of the region is unsurpassed blah blah blah.' My sky subscription has now been cancelled but alas so many other people will be duped by the propaganda of Idiots like 'expert' Keith Graves.
Posted by: Shep UK   2006-08-07 07:22  

#5  Seriously, in such an active democracy as is Israel, with all of Israel behind this effort, how can PM Olmert stop before it has been done right?
Posted by: trailing wife   2006-08-07 05:44  

#4  i'd wait, might be a another fake out
Posted by: RD   2006-08-07 03:18  

#3  Fog of War.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-08-07 02:53  

#2  ...Olmert, not the IDF, is horribly out of his depth.

I'd have to second that. So far it seems to me that he's been too prone to react to the crisis of the moment, and he's allowed the MSM caterwalling to affect Israel's strategy.
Posted by: PBMcL   2006-08-07 01:22  

#1  That idiot will make Israel pay an heavy price.
Posted by: Clerert Uneamp2772   2006-08-07 01:13  

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