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CNN LIVE SUNDAY

Eight Israelis Killed in Rocket Attack in Haifa; U.S. Working on Evacuation Plan for Americans in Lebanon; G8 Leaders Urge Israel to Exercise Restraint

Aired July 16, 2006 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Israel launches fresh attacks on Beirut. Nic Roberts joins us live from the Lebanese capital in just a moment. The port city of Tyre, Lebanon hit today, leaving many dead and wounded. The world's leaders forced to react from the G8 summit as the crisis in the Middle East escalates by the hour.
Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SUNDAY. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Here's what we know about the worsening crisis in the Middle East. Within the past half hour, Israeli officials confirmed rocket attacks on three towns in northern Israel. Details are still coming in.

Earlier, Israel launched a nighttime attack on Beirut International Airport. Lebanese officials say the strike ignited fuel tanks. At least 20 people were killed in an Israeli strike on the Lebanese port city in Tyre.

Canada says eight of its citizens were killed in a nearby raid in Lebanon. Hezbollah's leader says Israel's campaign has not destroyed his fighter's will. In a televised address, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah says his group is fighting on behalf of all Muslims, in the deadliest attack yet in Israel. Eight people were killed in a Hezbollah rocket strike on a train station in Haifa. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said it would have "far-reaching implications."

And in Russia, G8 leaders issued a statement blaming the crisis on Hezbollah. The statement also called on Israel to show restraint.

Let's go straight to the update desk now for the latest information on this growing crisis, with Anand Naidoo.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Fredricka.

The Israeli defense force has confirmed to us that there have been more rocket strikes in Israel. What's significant about these latest strikes is that they are the deepest into Israel from the Lebanese border.

We're hearing that rockets fired from Lebanon exploded in the towns of Nazareth, Afuola, and upper Nazareth late Sunday. The military is saying that they showed a range far further south than previous barrages that came into those two towns.

Now, those two towns are about 25 miles south of the Lebanese border. They are south of Haifa, where most of the rocket fire has been concentrated earlier on, in the past few hours and in the past few days.

Most of the rocket fire has hit the town of Nahariya, has hit Haifa. This morning there was a rocket strike on Haifa that killed seven people when rockets hit the train station in that town, 17 people were wounded.

But this would go even further than that, going further south. Upper Nazareth is a Jewish town. It is next to historical Nazareth, which is, of course, the boyhood home of Jesus. The population of Nazareth is made up of Muslim and Christian Arabs, but they are Israeli citizens.

So we're hearing from the Israel defense force right now that Hezbollah militants have struck far south into Israel, very deep into Israel, hitting the towns of Afuola, Nazareth and Giv'atayim.

WHITFIELD: And, Anand, help us understand the significance of this, because while it had been, I guess, open knowledge that Hezbollah had some missiles that could reach something like 20 miles, there was fear or growing concern they might use missiles they may have that reached 30 miles or potentially even more.

So this strike in Nazareth, this historic city, which is known to be the place of residence of Jesus' parents, Joseph and Mary, would fit the bill on being struck by a missile of longer range?

NAIDOO: Well, as this violence escalates, the militants on the border, on the Israeli-Lebanese border are showing they have the capability to strike deeper and deeper into Israel, into, you know, civilian centers, into population centers in Israel, and this must be, of course, of deep concern to the Israelis. But these rockets are reaching far south

WHITFIELD: All right. Anand Naidoo, thanks so much. We'll check back with you as we continue to get more information on these developments.

Beirut has been battered overnight by fresh Israeli air strikes, as well. CNN's Nic Robertson joins us live from the capital with the very latest. Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the very latest from here, missile strikes on the Beirut international airport, on the south side of the city. The fuel storage depots there, again, the target of attacks. They were targeted several days ago, targeted again tonight.

Those attacks came just at the end of a lull here in Beirut. During that lull, Xavier Solana, the European Union foreign affairs and security chief, had been meeting with the prime minister here, Fouad Siniora.

Neither man came up with a concrete sort of step-by-step process for achieving peace. Both said it was important to bring about a cease-fire. Both said it was important to do it in a very, very timely fashion.

Meanwhile, the U.S. embassy today has been able to ratchet up one step its ability to evacuate Americans from Lebanon. There are about 25,000, estimated, Americans living in Lebanon. The team that flew in to the embassy today are specialists in evacuation programs.

U.S. embassy officials here hope that evacuation of Americans can happen quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no, it'll definitely happen in the next few days. When will depend on the conditions and that's what this team of people who have arrived are going to give us the expertise, are going to help us look around and see how is the best way of doing it. So very soon it will be happening.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: And a lot of people are trying to get out of the country today. Evacuations going on in the south of Lebanon, the Israeli aircraft dropping leaflets. They're telling the Lebanese to get out of the south of Lebanon, close to the border with Israel.

Of course, this is the area that Hezbollah uses to shell into Israel. Hezbollah really holds sway in that area. The Lebanese government doesn't influence very much what happens in the south of Lebanon. And a lot of shelling in the south of Lebanon, as well, today.

And one particular incident, in the port of Tira, Lebanese broadcasting reported that 20 people were killed, 50 people injured, when a building in that town was struck and, from the Canadian foreign ministry, reporting that eight Canadian nationals died in Lebanon today.

WHITFIELD: And, Nic, back to the evacuations involving Americans, is the U.S. embassy in any way indicating whether it's likely to be an air lift type of evacuation or if they will, indeed, use both, even though there is a naval blockade along the coast?

ROBERTSON: Well, it appears that, certainly, in terms of extricating foreign nationals from Beirut, that deals can be struck. The French have a ship on the way from nearby Cyprus tonight. There's some motorcycle traffic down here, young people coming into the city center to see what's going on. The French, though, have a boat, a ship on the way to Lebanon tonight to bring out French nationals from Lebanon and other Europeans.

So it would seem, perhaps, that there are two main options, principal options open to the embassy, by ship or perhaps by air. Now, they don't know exactly how many of those approximate 25,000 Americans in Lebanon actually want to leave. That's what they are a trying to gauge at the moment. That will influence how they get people out. And, of course, the security situation will play a major role in that. Roads have been ruled out at the moment. The roads are now considered too dangerous to take a large land convoy. So it is going to be by sea or air, but which way will depend on exactly what's happening in the country and that does seem to change almost hour by hour right now, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Sure, interesting. All right, thank you so much. Nic Robertson in Beirut.

Israeli ground forces are firing into Lebanon from extreme northern Israel. CNN's John Vause is there.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These Howitzers are firing 155 millimeter rounds from this position, not far from the Lebanese border. They travel about 10 miles into southern Lebanon.

The target, those launch facilities for Katyusha rockets. The Israeli military says about 450 Katyusha's have been fired over the last couple of days, many of them landing in Israel town sand cities.

This is part of the far-reaching consequences promised by the Israel prime minister, Ehud Olmert. This artillery is targeting an area which of southern Lebanon, which is also being hit by Israeli air power.

Now, according to the Israeli military, the Lebanese residents who live in that part of Lebanon were warned earlier today to leave their homes, given about two to three hours warning, that this military event would be escalated and it was time for them to leave their homes.

The Israelis say the aim is to try and wipe out the Katyusha rocket launch facilities, try and push them back, out of southern Lebanon, out of the range of those Israeli towns and cities.

Another development, Israeli media also reporting that an infantry reserve division has been called up, possible preparations for a ground defensive in this area. We've also seen a build-up of Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers.

John Vause, CNN, on the Israel-Lebanon border.

WHITFIELD: Lebanon's prime minister called, again, for a cease- fire today, but Israeli officials suggest the Lebanese government is playing second fiddle to Hezbollah.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIMON PERES, ISRAELI VICE PREMIER: If Mr. Siniora wants peace, I think we are ready to meet with him face-to-face, without prior conditions, and talk sense. But if Mr. Siniora is a prisoner in the hands of Hezbollah or a prisoner of the impossible situation in Lebanon, well, very little can be done.

If he is free and representing the wish of Lebanon, Lebanon is not our enemy. Lebanon can be our closest friend. We have sympathy for the Lebanese people. Israelis will come and negotiate face-to- face, straight ahead, straightforward. Why not?

FOUAD SINIORA, LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: You know, Israel wants security. The best thing, how to achieve security for Israel is to build good relations with its neighbors.

It is not through terror. It is not through war. It's not through killing that they can really achieve peace. This is the way, what they have been doing for the past five days and they are killing people and destroying the country.

This is not the way how to achieve peace. This is not the way how to achieve security for the Israelis, for the young men and women of Israel, like the young men and women of Lebanon. We want peace. We actually want it the right way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And, now, hearing form a third party today, today's televised statement by the leader of Hezbollah was his first since the crisis began. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said Israel air strikes have failed to cripple his fighters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHEIK HASSAN NASRALLAH, HEZBOLLAH LEADER (through translator): What you killed were civilians and were children and the houses that you destroyed were civilian homes, empty of any of the weapons that you're talking about.

The weapons that you are worried about are still there are we have not used but a little of these weapons and we still have those.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: In developments now from the Middle East, Paula Newton joins us live from Jerusalem with the very latest. And so, Paula, how concerned is the Israeli defense force, given that new reports indicate that rocket attacks have reached as far south as Nazareth?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, Mr. Nasrallah is trying to live up to those promises to continue to hit Israel and as you mentioned, Nazareth and Afuola, that is the deepest south, the furthest, about 27 miles, I would say, into Israel that those Katyusha rockets fell.

What is very alarming about this, Fredricka, is that these people were not part of that state of emergency. They were not in bomb shelters, not in safe rooms. It was just after 11:00 p.m. here local time. They were either in bed or catching up on the news themselves and in comes the barrage of rockets.

Right now, the Israeli defense forces will have to reassess exactly how many people in Israel, and we're now working on about a fifth of the population that has to take cover from these Katyusha rockets.

WHITFIELD: And then meantime, Paula, the other great concern from Israelis earlier today, Haifa, eight people reported killed.

NEWTON: Haifa still has a big bull's eye on it, as well, Fredricka. We mentioned before petro chemical plants there, it has a lot of industrial capability in the cities. Anything they get there, beyond the loss of life, you're talking about what could be a big environmental disaster.

Mr. Nasrallah didn't just allude to it. He pretty much made a threat that that would happen if Israel escalated. And as we just heard from John Vause, it is fast and furious on the Lebanese-Israeli border overnight now.

WHITFIELD: Well, yesterday about this time, Paula, we were reporting that Israel said anti-aircraft missiles, Patriot missiles, were heading into the Haifa port city.

Did they make it there or what happened?

NEWTON: They made it there and more batteries were moved in. Fredricka, those things are notoriously unreliable. For as much as they can maybe do something or a little bit protect people to a certain extent, still the best thing for people to do is head into bomb shelters and safe rooms.

They still are no protection against what is a barrage or rockets really in an area that Israel was unprepared for.

WHITFIELD: All right, Paula Newton from Jerusalem. Thanks for that update.

And we are keeping a close eye on the crisis in the Middle East overall. Ahead this hour, I'll speak with a former U.S. ambassador to Syria. Many are crossing from Lebanon into that country for safe haven. How will Damascus reacted?

And, later, what happens if you're stuck in Lebanon? We'll have a live report from the island of Cyprus, where some foreigners have been evacuated to.

All that and much more ahead this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's get the latest now on the crisis in the Middle East from Anand Naidoo, who is at the update desk. Anand?

NAIDOO: Fredricka, this coming in to our international desk just in the past 15 minutes or so. Hezbollah guerrillas who are based on the Israel-Lebanese border have struck with rockets deeper into Israel than ever before.

They've hit the towns of Afuola and Nazareth. Afuola is about 33 miles south of the border. That would be the deepest that these rockets have hit so far. So far, we have no reports of any casualties, but up until now, most of the rockets have hit the town of Nahariya and Haifa, which are close to the Lebanese border.

A rocket attack on Haifa earlier today, in the morning, killed eight people, wounded 17, and hit the railway station in that town.

But there have also been rocket attacks on two other towns, which are coastal towns on the Sea of Galilee, and Tibarias. But now the rockets have gone even further. They've reached Afuola, they've reached Nazareth, and they've already reached another small town called Giv'atayim.

Upper Nazareth is a Jewish town and it is next door to the historical Nazareth. That's the boyhood home of Jesus, of course. And the population of Nazareth is made up of Muslim and Christian Arabs who are Israeli citizens.

And as I mentioned, the attack earlier today on Haifa, on the railroad station that killed eight people, wounded 17, Israel responded with yet more attacks on southern Lebanon and on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

And in the past few hours, Israeli war planes have hit a residential building in the city of Tear in south Lebanon, 20 people were killed in that attack, 50 wounded. Among those who were killed were eight Canadians, Canadian officials confirming that to us, that eight Canadians were among those killed.

And Israeli airplanes also struck in the southern suburbs of Beirut. There were renewed attacks in that part of Lebanon. There were also attacks on fuel storage tanks situated at Beirut airport.

Now, let me give you an update on the casualty figures after five days of violence. Among the Lebanese, 104 people have been killed, 286 are wounded; 12 Israelis, civilians, have died in the violence, nine military personnel have died.

That's what we have at the latest.

WHITFIELD: All right, Anand, thank you so much for that update. Startling numbers all the way around.

The American embassy in Beirut says it's working around the clock to finalize plans to get Americans out of Lebanon.

Gary Nurenberg is live from Washington with a progress report on what is taking place.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, other countries are moving more quickly. The French, for example, announced a plan this afternoon to ferry its citizens from Beirut to Cyprus in a ferry campaign that would start tomorrow.

The first ferry in that campaign was scheduled to leave Cyprus just a few minutes ago. Passengers could be on board as early as tomorrow. Americans may have to wait a little longer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NURENBERG (voice-over): Two CH-53 heavy life helicopters like these brought to the American embassy in Beirut Sunday afternoon, a military evacuation planning and security team.

JULIET WURR, U.S. EMBASSY SPOKESPERSON: Experts who have helped move large numbers of people, if needed. And so they're going to be reviewing all the different options.

NURENBERG: Those options are limited by bombing damage to Beirut's airport and highway system. The American military is coordinating evacuation procedures with Lebanon and Israel.

UNITED STATES SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA): It's important for us first to make sure the Israelis know where the Americans are, so they have that knowledge and intelligence.

NURENBERG: And don't hit Americans by mistake. There is some sense of urgency.

SEN. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: It's going to get worse, I think, before it gets better. We don't want to discover afterwards that American citizens were trapped in a situation when we could have gotten them out.

NURENBERG: The financial cost to evacuees has not yet been determined, but might involve paying for seats on charter aircraft. The state department is urging Americans to stay in a safe place rather than escaping by roads, which have been subject to air strikes.

The helicopters that delivered that evacuation team to the embassy Sunday took out at least 20 passengers, some students, some with pressing medical needs. Others are waiting to hear when it's their turn.

WURR: I know there's many people who are feeling quite panicked, but they should know that we're working 24-7 on this and we'll get them out as soon as we possibly can.

NURENBERG (on-camera): The embassy continues to urge Americans in Lebanon to register online so they can quickly be contacted when evacuation plans are finalized. But neither the state department nor the defense department today was willing to say when those plans will be ready.

Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Gary Nurenberg, thanks so much.

Well, with a front row seat there in Cyprus, already witnessing some evacuations taking place out of Lebanon and over to Cyprus, our Chris Burns. He's on the telephone with us now.

And, Chris, so far, of the people who have been evacuated, who are they and how was that effort coordinated?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN BERLIN BUREAU CHIEF: Fredricka, we saw about 500 people evacuated today. There were some Italian military flights out of Syria, with about 350 people, various European nationalities. A Greek flight also out of Syria, with about a 150 people, mainly Greek incipriates (ph).

And we're seeing now France sending a ferry to Lebanon, but that should be able to take about 1,300 people on each trip and they're expecting to do two or three trips over the next few days.

So that's what we've been seeing moving now. As far as the Americans, what I've heard on this end from a diplomatic source, U.S. diplomatic source, is that Wednesday is being discussed as perhaps the first day for evacuations to begin, possibly by ship from Lebanon over to Cyprus and from there, there would be some kind of commercial or charter flight from there back to the states.

That's what's being envisioned, but authorities are saying, "Be patient. We've got to work this out. It's taking time. Don't make your way to Syria. That could cause you even more problems. Stay put until the situation becomes clear."

That's what they're telling us from here, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Chris, is there any explanation as to why it seems the efforts involving the American evacuations is taking that much longer? Is it because there are a greater number of Americans in Lebanon than some of these other nations?

BURNS: Well, that's one aspect that's very true. There are an estimated 25,000 Americans, plus perhaps thousands more on vacation in Lebanon. Now, many of them have dual citizenship, so Lebanese as well as U.S., and many of them will probably stay. In fact, most of them, that's what officials are saying.

There could be maybe a few thousand that might want to leave, but they really don't know at this point. They're saying they're getting a steady stream of calls the last couple of days, in the hundreds, possibly the low thousands, but that's not a massive exodus.

So the reason why this is not moving so quickly, too, is that authorities are looking at the security side of it, as well. They want to make sure that this is a, in their words, secure and orderly evacuation and that's going to take a couple extra days.

WHITFIELD: And then once in Cyprus, for the number of Europeans that have already made it to Cyprus out of Lebanon, how long are they there or are they only touching down for a few moments and then taking off to their home countries?

BURNS: Yes, that's about it. They practically bounce through there, because we are seeing -- you're just looking at about 500 people today. So that's a trickle. You can put those people on planes here, regular commercial flights, and that's not a problem.

But if you do see thousands moving through here, you're going to have to see some kind of charter flights to take care of that.

WHITFIELD: Chris Burns reporting from Cyprus, thanks so much, on the evacuation efforts.

Some of it already underway and then possibly as early as Wednesday, perhaps the evacuation plan for Americans could be on the way.

Well, if you are trying to find out about relatives visiting or living in Lebanon, contact the U.S. State Department hotline at 1-888- 407-4747.

The crisis in the Middle East was front and center today at the G8 summit, as well.

Up next, how the world's leaders plan to deal with the escalating violence.

And later, I'll be joined by a former U.S. ambassador to Syria, with his take on the crisis there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The Syrian-Lebanese border is jammed with people fleeing the violence. Despite an Israeli air strike to the road connecting Beirut and Damascus, a steady stream is managing to make it across anyway.

CNN's Aneesh Raman reports from the border.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For thousands of people, this is the only way out of the spiraling situation between Lebanon and Israel. This is the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.

Thousands of people, hundreds of thousands, according to Syrian officials, have made their way through, many of them walking for hours, carrying what little they can from inside Lebanon.

The majority of those who have come are Syrians working in Lebanon who have come home, given the violence. But Lebanese people we have spoken to say that the scenes back home are of utter destruction.

Coming into this area at the other border crossing, the scene is one of chaos. People are leaving their vehicles and walking the hours long journey in order to get into Syria.

They say the bombs are detonating too close. They are coming here for the survival of their family.

Meantime, on the other side, over here is where one would go into Syria. You can see it is empty. It has been virtually empty all day. The only vehicles going in are taxis that are looking to try and make some money.

Also, the Red Crescent is here for the first day. They are surveying the situation.

The Syrian officials are keen to let as many people as they can in, expatriate Arab tourists who are there, because they know that whether they want it or not, the Syrian government is entwined in this crisis.

Their relationship with Hezbollah is now under an international microscope.

You see behind me a tour bus that's coming. We've seen a number of those. Vehicles just now being able to get through. It is packed. There are children, there are families desperately trying to get out of the situation.

But there is fear, as well, that while they are departing from Lebanon and coming to Syria, Syria could soon see what Lebanon sees now, bombings, and that is what the biggest fear is of those we have spoken to.

Aneesh Raman, CNN, on the Syrian side of the Syrian-Lebanese border.

WHITFIELD: And Syria's ambassador to the U.S. is accusing President Bush of doubletalk when it comes to resolving the Middle East conflict. Listen to what he had to say to Wolf Blitzer today on "Late Edition."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMAD MOUSTAPHA, SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Syria does not provide military training or military equipment for Hezbollah and Lebanon. This is not the issue.

It's always trying to ignore the big elephant in the room. The big issue is that right now, while we are talking, Israel is committing atrocities in Lebanon. President Bush had repeatedly said that he is a friend of Lebanon.

When the Lebanese government rushed to the United Nations Security Council yesterday asking the Security Council to interfere, to stop the massacre, the United States objected.

This is the time for the United States to prove that they are friends to Lebanon and to stop this bloodshed in Lebanon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Theodore Kattouf is a former U.S. ambassador to Syria. He joins us for more discussion on the Syrian factor in the current crisis. Good to see you, Mr. Kattouf.

THEODORE KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA: My pleasure, Ms. Whitfield.

WHITFIELD: Well, others are arguing that Syria and Iran should be credited with helping to support Hezbollah and if that is indeed the case, is it your suspicion that the Lebanese government has in any way reached out to Syria or even vice versa, given this crisis is escalating?

KATTOUF: Well, as you know, the relations between the Syrian and Lebanese governments are quite strained, ever since Syria was forced out. The prime minister, Fouad Siniora, is an ally of Bahaa Hariri, the son of the slain former prime minister, Rafik Hariri.

They are at least anti-Basra, anti-Baathe right now, but Hezbollah, which holds two cabinet seats in that government, is an ally of Syria.

WHITFIELD: So if Syria and Lebanon don't talk, might Lebanon talk to Iran since Iran is being called the godfather of Hezbollah?

KATTOUF: Well, again, Iran is very much a financier and a guide where Hezbollah's leadership is concerned. So while there might be some channels of communication, I doubt that they're very effective right now.

WHITFIELD: So where do you see this going if any one entity or country is able to intervene here, who would it be?

KATTOUF: Well, the United States is always going to be a key player. We have tremendous influence with Israel if we choose to use it. We also have our president at a G-8 summit where China, Russia, a number of E.U. states are present. And, therefore there could very easily be a coordinated effort to try to bring pressure on all parties if there were agreement among the eight.

WHITFIELD: Because the only agreement we are hearing out of the G-8 right now, those leaders, is that they all condemn the violence, they are all saying the bloodshed must stop. But the U.S. is stopping short of actually giving instruction to Israel or telling Israel exactly what to do. Just simply as the president said, that country has a right to defend itself, but it has to be mindful of the consequences.

KATTOUF: Well, the U.S. has a direct stake in how all of this comes out. And I would not be surprised if the U.S. policy were to evolve over the next several days.

We have 135,000 troops in Iraq. Iran as we know is a big player in Iraq. Many people have criticized Prime Minister Siniora because he cannot control Hezbollah, a virtual state within a state. But yet with 135,000 American troops in Iraq, we cannot control some of the Iraqi militias, such as those of Muqtada al-Sadr, an ally of Iran and somebody who has threatened U.S. interests if this fighting continues.

WHITFIELD: And now back to Syria and its potential to be involved in this possibly even militarily. Iran has said, at least the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said if Syria is targeted, then this can amount to an attack on the entire Muslim world. Do you see that as blossoming into a regional war?

KATTOUF: Not necessarily. President Ahmadinejad not speak for the entire Muslim world. I am not even sure he speaks for the entire Iranian leadership. But the fact is that the longer hostilities go on, the more civilians on both sides who are killed, the more attitudes are going to harden and the more people who are right now critical of Hezbollah for having started this, will rally behind it.

WHITFIELD: Theodore Kattouf, former U.S. ambassador to Syria, I know we will be talking to you again and again because we are just at the tip of the iceberg, I have a feeling, on all of this. Thank you so much for your insight.

KATTOUF: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: The Middle East crisis is overshadowing other issues this year at the G-8 summit in Russia. World leaders have different takes on the conflict, as we've explored, but today they did try to speak with one voice. Reporting from St. Petersburg, CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With the possibility of all-out war erupting in the Middle East, leaders of the world's major industrialized democracies came together to try to find a solution to end the crisis.

They called for the safe return of the abducted Israeli soldiers, an end to Hezbollah's shelling of Israel, an end to Israel's military operations and the early withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of the arrested Palestinian ministers and parliamentarians. Conditions they say that will lay the foundation for a permanent peace, just short of endorsing a cease fire, which Mr. Bush does not promote.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our message to Israel is look, defend yourself, but as you do so, be mindful of the consequences, and so we urged to restrain.

MALVEAUX: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said a temporary truce would not be helpful in reigning in terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Instead, the U.S. is working with the United Nations and Arab allies to isolate countries like Syria and Iran, that the administration says is supporting the terrorists.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: The real peace for Israel comes in having moderate partners in Lebanon, and moderate partners in the Palestinian territories. So we have international frameworks that would help us to isolate the extremists.

MALVEAUX: The statement comes after two days of debate over how to bridge the divide among G8 members. The leaders of France, Russia and Italy rebuked Israel for going too far, while President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair defended Israel's actions.

(on camera): While G8 leaders did agree on a framework to address Middle East crisis, they also recognized that achieving peace will be a long and arduous process. Susan Malveaux, CNN, St. Petersburg, Russia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Meantime the latest on the crisis. A Hezbollah rocket hits a train station today in Haifa, Israel. Ahead, we take a closer look at the violence that is rocking that resort town. And later, our Nic Robertson visits another seaside village in Lebanon. The streets of Sidon are empty due to recent attacks. More in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back to our coverage of the crisis in the Middle East. Here's what we know right now. Israel is not letting up on Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Today it bombed more targets in the South. Eight Canadian civilians were killed in one air attack. Hezbollah rockets continued to rain down on northern Israel. One hit a train station in Haifa, killing eight people. And the rhetoric intensifies on both sides. Hezbollah's leader says his fighters have, quote, "surprises that will humiliate the Israeli military," end quote. And Israel warns anyone who attacks the country will pay a stiff price.

Americans with loved ones in Lebanon are worried sick about their safety. Melissa Long has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA LONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Susan Alswalhi last spoke to her husband and 13-year-old son last Wednesday when they were a few miles away from the now bombed out Beirut Airport. The two had flown from Virginia to visit relatives in Lebanon.

SUSAN ALSWALHI, HUSBAND, SON IN LEBANON: I am a desperate woman, a mother, a wife who needs to know that these people are alive and safe.

LONG: 18-year-old Sydney Bardole was in Beirut visiting friends. When the attacks began, they fled the city. Her mother Linda hasn't been able to reach here.

LINDA BARDOLE, DAUGHTER IN LEBANON: They are hiding in this mountainous territory. There is no way to get her out of Lebanon. There's no safe exit.

LONG: Gus Karim has spoken with his daughter and granddaughter in Beirut, but thousands of miles away in Texas, he feels powerless to help them.

GUS KARIM, FAMILY MEMBERS IN LEBANON: She said father, I don't know what to do. I said, if you can't move. She said we can't move. There's fighting outside. At night it's dangerous to move.

LONG: Larry Kandler (ph) was in Beirut for a training session for his security company. He had been communicating with colleagues via e-mail. STEVE CRUTCHLEY, COWORKER IN LEBANON: He said he went to the embassy, today it was a zoo of desperate people and it was starting to get ugly.

LONG: The U.S. military team is trying to help Americans trapped in Lebanon, but officials say it may take a few days before they are able to begin evacuations. Melissa Long, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: New fear inside Israel today after that deadly Hezbollah rocket attack in Haifa. CNN's Paula Hancocks is there with the fallout.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Panic in Haifa Sunday as Hezbollah launched at least 20 rockets into Israel's third largest city. Those who are on the streets run for cover when the sirens sounded. It was Hezbollah's deadliest rocket attack on Israel in more than a decade, a train maintenance depot in Haifa's industrial zone. Eight Israeli railway workers died, more than 20 injured.

(on camera): This is where the rocket came through the roof of this train depot. There were about 30 people working in here at the time of the blast Sunday morning. And you can see exactly where the rocket hit. Now anything that was left in that hole was taken away to be investigated and to discover exactly where the material came from. Now the people who managed to walk out of here alive said to me that there were no sirens and no warning.

(voice-over): Arnie (ph) survived. He tells me he tried to help the friends he'd worked with for many years. Israel's former army chief instantly pointed the finger of blame. This was not the only rocket that hit Haifa, but it was the most deadly.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Israel for the last six years has gone through cycles with Hezbollah. We are not in a cycle now, we are in a war and we are determined that at the end of this war, Hezbollah will not be on other northern border.

HANCOCKS: Israel deployed patriot missile batteries in the northern Israeli town of Sufed (ph) Sunday, a town that has been hit by numerous Katyusha rockets. The missiles have already been deployed in Haifa to intercept and rockets from Lebanon. A heightened alert across the whole of northern Israel spread Sunday to Israel's most popular city, Tel Aviv, just a precaution according to authorities.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The areas south to Haifa will be alerted by a siren. And when that siren is heard, they would have a minute at least to enter structures, lower floors, security rooms, which will significantly reduce the ability to hurt the body and soul.

HANCOCKS: At least a dozen Israeli civilians have been killed so far in hundreds of rocket attacks. Hezbollah warns this is only the beginning. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Haifa, Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Much more ahead on the escalating violence in the Middle East. We'll be following this story throughout the evening. And a reminder, if you are trying to find out about relatives in Lebanon, you can contact the U.S. State Department hotline. The number is 1-888-407-4747.

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WHITFIELD: The Lebanese city of Sidon is in shambles after repeated air strikes from the Israeli air force. Before the assaults, Sidon was a bustling port town of more than 100,000. Now five days removed, it's a literal shell of what it was. Here's CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Crumbled concrete and twisted steel marks where the port of Sidon begins and the fast, now blocked road from Beirut ends.

(on camera): This is the main bridge here that linked Sidon with Beirut. This is the coastal highway. The road goes up here. The bridge is down and what's really strange standing here, apart from the call to prayer, is all I can hear is the sound of the waves on the beach. That's because it's so silent. No one is around. The city is down here. The roads are empty, it's deserted.

(voice-over): As we drive past the normally bustling harbor, it, too, seems deserted. Then without warning from the sky, leaflets like confetti floating down, and suddenly crowds were on the streets running to see what they said. "It's a message from Israel, showing the Hezbollah chief as a snake," he says. It asks, is the resistance helping Lebanon? Then says the resistance is destroying Lebanon.

"It's a lie," he declares, "I don't believe it." On a corner not far away, Lebanese Red Cross medical technicians wait by their ambulances, ready for a call-out. They have had several already.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We took two civilians from a gas station this morning. One of them was dead.

ROBERTSON: They are worried they are being cut off and medical supplies may run out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are killing this town. They are killing this town slowly.

ROBERTSON: At the bombed out fuel station, employees are salvaging what they can. It was the second station hit this day and in this town of 70,000, fear is fuel is getting scarce.

(on camera): The people around here say the only reason they can guess that the fuel station was targeted is to deny them the possibility to drive around. They say they would have known if it would have been affiliated with Hezbollah.

(voice-over): On the streets, the Lebanese army is running rudimentary patrols, but are powerless to prevent Israeli attacks. And in the harbor, fishermen and boats are idle. None have been out to sea since the violence escalated four days ago. They say they fear Israeli attack.

"Every day we don't go out," this fisherman says. "We don't have food on the table. I don't know how much longer we can keep this up."

ROBERTSON: From the mountains and the now two-hour drive back to Beirut, the port looks idyllic. Then we get the news right after we left. The harbor was hit by Israeli missiles. Nic Robertson, CNN, Sidon, Lebanon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: And the developments in the Middle East are changing by the minute. Melissa Long will be carrying the baton into the rest of the evening with a lot going on.

LONG: Well coming up this hour, we will be speaking with a gentleman who travels off to Beirut for a family reunion, went along with another family member, obviously got stuck there and now he's trying to get back home. We'll also speak with him live from Beirut and also hear from his family who's waiting until his safe return.

WHITFIELD: All right, lots of families worried about their loved ones abroad. All right Melissa, thanks so much, we'll be watching.

Another story we are watching closely for you, wildfires burning here in this country, in southern California.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dan Simon, a tough day for some folks here in the community of Pioneertown, as people are coming back to find their homes leveled. The story of where things stand, coming up.

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WHITFIELD: On edge in southern California, firefighters are struggling to get a massive wildfire under control. At the same time, they are nervously watching the weather, hoping a potentially dangerous thunderstorm never really materializes. The 71,000 acre fire has destroyed 58 homes so far. Reporting from Pioneertown, California, here's CNN's Dan Simon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So it was right here somewhere, under here.

SIMON (voice-over): Fred and Joanne Kretcher (ph) lived in their house for 20 years. This is all that's left of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is crazy. I didn't think I would ever be doing anything like this. SIMON: Fred, a carpenter, built the house with his own hands. The same hands now looking for anything that can be salvaged.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got a pottery turtle over there and I know that thing is probably still there.

SIMON: Both of them were working when their house caught fire. They never even had a chance to gather any valuables. By the time they got here, the house was fully engulfed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was spiraling in flames.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And so he jumped in his truck and he said, we've got to go. And we just left.

SIMON: The fire at this point is no longer threatening anymore homes. Crews are optimistic the worst part is behind. On Saturday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria toured the region and praised the nearly 4,000 firefighters battling the blaze.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: We are very proud of our firefighters. They are true heroes. Anytime anyone is risking their life to save other is a hero to me, and so I want to thank them all.

SIMON: As for Fred and Joanne, there were a few bright spots, literally.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think this is awesome, finding my original wedding ring.

SIMON: And that pottery turtle? Well they didn't find the exact one they wanted, but did find his partner.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You made it buddy.

SIMON: He won't be going far. The Kretchmers (ph) say they're committed to rebuilding in the exact same spots.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON: Well, Fredricka, the forecast did call for rain, but as I look up, I am basically just seeing blue sky and a few non-aggressive clouds. As for where we are with the fire, the big fire, the sawtooth, 60 percent contained at this point. They are hoping to get those numbers up. Despite the fact the fire is not threatening any homes at the moment, there still is an evacuation order in place for a couple of very small communities on the western edge of that fire. They did lift some of the evacuation orders for some other communities, but still some in effect right now, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And while there was a lot of material damage Dan, we know now that one has been reportedly killed from this fire. Is it the belief that this person just waited too late trying to make an escape, got caught in the fires? SIMON: Well that's one of the operating theories at this point. It's really not clear what happened. This particular gentleman called his family to say that he was in the process of evacuating. That was on Tuesday afternoon. They didn't hear from him, they reported him missing and then just yesterday authorities found his body at the base of a small hill about a half mile away from his home. It's not really clear what happened to him. The cause of his death is under investigation, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Dan Simon, thanks so much for that update out of Pioneertown, California. Still much more ahead tonight on CNN. We are closely monitoring the situation of course in the Middle East. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Melissa Long and more of CNN LIVE SUNDAY right after this.

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