NationStates Jolt Archive

Israeli warplanes strike Beirut as Tel Aviv braces for rocket fire
1 hour, 7 minutes ago

BEIRUT (AFP) - Israeli warplanes pounded areas north and south of Lebanon, killing at least 38 people, as
Israel's largest city Tel Aviv braced for a rain of retaliatory Hezbollah rocket fire.

While the UN Security Council struggled to set terms for a ceasefire, Israel said it had lost three more soldiers in combat in south Lebanon and three civilians to missile fire inside Israel.

Twenty-six of the civilians killed in Friday's air raids died when Israeli aircraft bombed the village of Qaa in northeast Lebanon, police and Red Cross officials said.

Most of the dead were Syrian farm workers, some of whom had been loading a refrigerated vegetable truck.

Sources: AFP/Yahoo/ OcceanNEWS©2006
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060804/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflict_060804181516;_ylt=Avt.vY71FNi6qKK.XIHE01as0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

post your comments

Do you think the Rocket fire is on the forecast for Tel-Aviv?

If HEzbollah had the ability to strike Tel Aviv, they would've done so by now.

I hope not. More innocent people being killed is hardly what this conflict needs.

I hope not. More innocent people being killed is hardly what this conflict needs.
Yep. On either side.
The actions of Hezbollah and the IDF sicken me.

I hope not. More innocent people being killed is hardly what this conflict needs.Indeed.. I wish women, children, Civileans could somehow be saved from this hell.

unfurtunately the odds are against a cease-fire.

Who's betting this is going to culminate in another Six-Day War?

If HEzbollah had the ability to strike Tel Aviv, they would've done so by now.
Unprovable. There was just an article in the local paper this morning about some local guy who had moved to Haifa in '99 and previously there were no rocket attacks. I have direct counter evidence, you have squat.

Who's betting this is going to culminate in another Six-Day War?I guess a full war where the US, Iran, Syria and other countres are drawn into-it is always possible..

But it is a worst-case scenario.

Yep. On either side.
The actions of Hezbollah and the IDF sicken me.

I am upset of what Israel is doing but mostly hezbolla for hiding in civial packed places and when israel kills them so does the innocent lives. Then hezbolla gets stronger in support by saying israel killed women and children...Look again Hezbolla i dont see israel cheering over a deat of a lebanese civilain or i dont see them strapping bombs onto their kids!

I am upset of what Israel is doing but mostly hezbolla for hiding in civial packed places and when israel kills them so does the innocent lives. Then hezbolla gets stronger in support by saying israel killed women and children...Look again Hezbolla i dont see israel cheering over a deat of a lebanese civilain or i dont see them strapping bombs onto their kids!
I think you've got the idea. Tragedies happen in any war, but Hezbollah is responsible for this crisis.

Unprovable. There was just an article in the local paper this morning about some local guy who had moved to Haifa in '99 and previously there were no rocket attacks. I have direct counter evidence, you have squat.
Hezbollah has been saying for 3 weeks that if Israel does X they would launch rockets at Tel Aviv. Israel then does that and Hezbollah says if you do Y we launch at Tel Aviv. Hezbollah would've launched already if they had the capability. It's simple logic.

Hezbollah has been saying for 3 weeks that if Israel does X they would launch rockets at Tel Aviv. Israel then does that and Hezbollah says if you do Y we launch at Tel Aviv. Hezbollah would've launched already if they had the capability. It's simple logic.the earliest official warning (for a Missile attack on Tel Aviv) I can find -on a News site- is dated the 3rd of August.
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?p=Nasrallah+warns+Tel+Aviv


Hezbollah spokesperson has been saying it for 3 weeks?? would you provide links?

Im not saying you are lying.. I am just saying ;)

the earliest warning (for a Missile attack on Tel Aviv) I can find -on a News site- is dated the 3rd of August.

Hezbollah has been warning for 3 weeks.. would you provide links, Im not saying you are lying.. I am just saying ;)
Nasrallah has been threatening to hit Tel Aviv since the beginning of the conflict. He just made his most recent one yesterday. I'm looking for a link right now, but they've been saying this for weeks on CNN.

Nasrallah has been threatening to hit Tel Aviv since the beginning of the conflict. He just made his most recent one yesterday. I'm looking for a link right now, but they've been saying this for weeks on CNN.well.. I tell you what Ive seen last nite (1am +- ..rigth after Lou-Dobbs usual Anti-Bush tirade) )on CNN..

Ive seen Wolf-Blitzer doing his usual back-and-for with the Israel >< Beirut Reporters..
and at one point Wolf-Blitzer asked the Beirut reporter if he thinks Hezbollah would follow suit if Israel strikes Central Beiruy.. and the Beirut CNNreported answer was something like this:
___________
"well.. Hezbollah said they would strike Haifa.. and they followed tru.. few days after They said they would strike Beyond Haifa.. and they did that too.. and later when They said they would strike beyon-beyond.. they did what they said they where going to do every time..
...
to you Wolf"
__________
This was live CNN last nite.

News Interactive - 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20025614-1702,00.html?from=rss

Rockets hit Tel Aviv suburb
From correspondents in Jerusalem
August 05, 2006 04:54am

THREE Hezbollah rockets hit the Israeli town of Hadera 40 km north of Tel Aviv overnight, causing no casualties, Israel's private Channel 10 television said.
The strike was the deepest that missiles fired by the Lebanese Shiite movement have hit inside Israel, some 70 km south of the frontier, and came after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened to hit Tel Aviv.

News Interactive - 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20025614-1702,00.html?from=rss

Rockets hit Tel Aviv suburb
From correspondents in Jerusalem
August 05, 2006 04:54am

THREE Hezbollah rockets hit the Israeli town of Hadera 40 km north of Tel Aviv overnight, causing no casualties, Israel's private Channel 10 television said.
The strike was the deepest that missiles fired by the Lebanese Shiite movement have hit inside Israel, some 70 km south of the frontier, and came after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday threatened to hit Tel Aviv.Tel Aviv suburbs are not Tel Aviv though. 40 km is over 25 miles. The FAJR-5 missile that Hezbollah has doesn't have the reach.

Tel Aviv suburbs are not Tel Aviv though. fair enough.

// going AFK //
be back in 7h+

fair enough.
Just to clarify another point of mine. I'm not saying that Hezbollah doesn't want to carry out their threats. I"m just saying that their known arsenal doesn't have the reach. Granted, they may have an ace up their sleave, but it's too early to say for certain what their full capabilities are. I'm sure Mossad has a good idea, but they wouldn't tell us anything if they knew it.

One other thing I forgot to post. A longer range ballistic missile would be a target that Israel can engage. They have the improved PAC 4 Patriot batteries. I read somewhere that the missile that struck the suburb was intercepted and that pieces of it fell on the suburb.

One other thing I forgot to post. A longer range ballistic missile would be a target that Israel can engage. They have the improved PAC 4 Patriot batteries. I read somewhere that the missile that struck the suburb was intercepted and that pieces of it fell on the suburb.

They also have the Arrow, which is designed for use against longer range missiles, and is designed to intercept those incoming missiles outside of Israel.

So, if someone is planning on sending a chemical warhead long range to Israel, the people who launched on Israel had better be able to explain the casualties in another Arab country.

Just to clarify another point of mine. I'm not saying that Hezbollah doesn't want to carry out their threats. I"m just saying that their known arsenal doesn't have the reach. Granted, they may have an ace up their sleave, but it's too early to say for certain what their full capabilities are. I'm sure Mossad has a good idea, but they wouldn't tell us anything if they knew it.No one of us know for sure.. and I bet the Mossad did not know.

That is why we can only answer this poll.. based on short-term-history a bit of research and.. deduction capabilities. (brain power)

// I really GTG.. //

No one of us know for sure.. and I bet the Mossad did not know.

That is why we can only answer this poll.. based on short-term-history a bit of research and.. deduction capabilities. (brain power)

// I really GTG.. //

I bet you'll really be upset if Israel buys this:

http://www.defense-update.com/directory/THEL.htm

It shoots down rockets and artillery shells in flight.

Especially Katushyas.

Probably worth the money - it would render Hezbollah impotent.

The fixed-site version Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) Tactical High Energy Laser (THEL) THEL, was developed by TRW Inc. under a $89 million contract. During several tests in the USA, the system has shot down 25 Katyusha rockets, but has not been deployed.

THEL laser weapon intercepts a BM21 rocket in flightThe system also known as Nautilus, has not progressed much since the end of the demonstration program, since the lack of mobility and the fixed base limitations of the system made in insufficient to counter long range rockets currently employed by Hezbulla at the Israeli northern border with Lebanon. While Katyusha rockets had a range of 20 kilometers, and could hit only a few urban targets, the long range rockets have a range of 70 kilometers and can hit strategic facilities and large urban areas in the Haifa bay. A laser-based defense against such weapons must rely on more systems, which could be rapidly mobilized to protect a much larger area. Such design is currently being implemented under the MTHEL program. Similar threats could face US contingencies in other parts of the world. This requirement is driving the need for an air-mobile version of the beam weapon. In July 2006, Northrop Grumman unveiled the SkyGuard system, based on the THEL, designed to protect airfields and fixed sites from rocket, artillery and mortar (RAM) attacks.

In fact, here's a test of the MTHEL (the mobile follow-on to THEL that Israel is going to buy).

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/laser-04g.html

Interestingly, they say it's going to be deployed in 2007.

After that, Hezbollah can fire rockets at 15,000 dollars a pop, while the IDF shoots them down at 3,000 dollars a pop.

Wonder who will run out of money first.

Interesting. I do not think they will hit Tel Aviv directly. That would not do Lebanon any good.

Also, I hope Israel does deploy these new weapon systems. That will be the end of the rocket attacks. :D

So, if someone is planning on sending a chemical warhead long range to Israel, the people who launched on Israel had better be able to explain the casualties in another Arab country.I do not think Hezbollah wants to be the first to use WMD.. (if they had any)

and I dont think Israel wants to be the first either..

I do not think Hezbollah wants to be the first to use WMD.. (if they had any)

and I dont think Israel wants to be the first either..
Yeah, even Hezbollah isn't dumb enough to use them.

Hezzbollah stands to lose a lot in this fight.

But they've also been preparing for it with 6 years of peace....

Let Israel take care of them. Chase them all the way back to Iran and Syria...

I do not think Hezbollah wants to be the first to use WMD.. (if they had any)

and I dont think Israel wants to be the first either..

Hezz would do it. And in front of UN/Lebanese/Peacekeepers to boot, and use them for shields.

Frontlines the next day "Incinerated bodies of XX amount of UNies found....."

In fact, here's a test of the MTHEL (the mobile follow-on to THEL that Israel is going to buy).

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/laser-04g.html

Interestingly, they say it's going to be deployed in 2007.

After that, Hezbollah can fire rockets at 15,000 dollars a pop, while the IDF shoots them down at 3,000 dollars a pop.

Wonder who will run out of money first.

ISrael.

Hezzbollah gets free stuff from Iran and Syria, Israel has to earn it the hard way by making it itself...

ISrael.

Hezzbollah gets free stuff from Iran and Syria, Israel has to earn it the hard way by making it itself...poor Jews.. poor Israel :rolleyes: