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CNN Live Saturday

Israeli Operations Continue;

Aired July 15, 2006 - 18:00   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Air strikes pound targets in Lebanon all day long. As Hezbollah rockets rain down on Northern Israel, sparking a state of emergency. We have complete live coverage around the region.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The resolution adopted in by unanimity.

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KAGAN: And more breaking news. North Korea is slammed by the UN over its missile tests. This is CNN SATURDAY. Good evening, I'm Daryn Kagan in for Carol Lin.

First the hour's headlines. Israeli troops are again in northern Gaza. That is now confirmed by the Israeli military. Witnesses describe tanks and bulldozers approaching populated areas and some gunfire. Details as they come in to us here at CNN.

At the G-8 summit in Russia, President Bush blames the Mid-East crisis on Hezbollah. Russia's President Vladimir Putin says Israel's concerns for its security are justified but he warns against excessive use of force.

In Baghdad, insurgents target the Iraqi Olympic program. Gunmen in police uniform storm a sports conference today. They kidnap at least 30 athletes' bodyguards and the chairman of the Olympic Committee.

If the UN Security Council gets its way, you won't be seeing any of these from North Korea. In a compromise designed to get China onboard, the council demanded North Korea suspend its missile program. The U.S. ambassador likes what he sees.

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JOHN BOLTON, U.S. AMBASSADOR: I think this is a significant step forward. And you can have this kind of resolution without going through the normal sanctions kind of regime. So we're very pleased. This is another innovative way ahead and could well be a pattern in other situations as well.

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KAGAN: And in California there are more problems from the wildfires. A weather service official says the fire's heat could create dry lightning, which could start even more fires. Two big fires merged Friday threatening populated parts of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Space shuttle Discovery undocks from the International Space Station. The crew is doing one more inspection before a planned return to earth on Monday.

Getting to our top story now, Israeli forces, Islamic militants. If either side is inclined to ease up, they're not showing it today. Here's what we know at this hour.

Israel again peppering Lebanon with air strikes. In the north. In the south. Bridges, ports and Hezbollah targets in central Beirut. Hezbollah reached further into Israel than ever before. Katyusha rockets struck Tiberias 22 miles from the Lebanese border Casualty figures from two to 10 wounded.

The war of words also makes zero progress toward a settlement. Many western leaders say Israel is acting in self defense. The Lebanese government wants UN involvement and the head of the Arab League today declared the Middle East peace process as dead.

We have CNN reporters stationed across the Middle East from Israel to Lebanon, to Syria and Gaza. We're following the crisis from all angles. At the same time, our international desk is monitoring the Middle East networks to get you the latest most accurate information. And with more on that, let's go to Anand with more on that.

Anand?

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Daryn. Good evening from me. The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has escalated by the hour. The Associated Press reporting that today was the heaviest day of bombings in that area. Israel has hit targets in both north and south Lebanon. They hit roads and bridges in the north. They've been hitting Hezbollah targets in the south.

They also hit a crossing point between Syria and Lebanon. They hit the Lebanese side of that border crossing to prevent arms being smuggled or to prevent those two captured soldiers from being taken out. Now, just in the past few minutes we've been monitoring Arab television stations here and in the past few minutes some have reported renewed attacks in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

Octavia Nasr, our senior Arab affairs editor joins me now with the latest on that. Octavia, what are you hearing?

OCTAVIA NASR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the strikes apparently started again. All Arab networks that we're monitoring right there behind us, they're reporting that the strikes began, some of them saying five strikes already on the southern suburb of Beirut. When we say the southern suburb of Beirut, this is an area known to be the Hezbollah area, the headquarters, the homes of the Hezbollah leaders. In Arabic it's called Dahir (ph), which means the suburb. When you 're reading in Lebanon, when you say Dahir, that means the Hezbollah area.

New TV (ph), which is based very close to the area is saying the strikes are hitting one target only. In Hartaharet (ph). This is one of the regions or areas of that southern suburb of Beirut. This is really where the Hezbollah headquarters are. And, you know, as Anand was saying, earlier today we saw some pretty strong images of strikes. If we are looking at al Arabiya TV. This is a live picture, looking at this area we're talking about. The Hartaharet areas. The location of the reporter is not Hataharet. The location of the reporter is Baabda (ph), which is about a kilometer away from the area.

But where you're looking at those lights on the left-hand side where that reporter is, that is the area called Hartaharet, that is the southern suburb of Beirut.

And, basically, the reporters are saying five strikes already. One target. One target only. It's too dark. It's pitch dark to know what that target is. But reporters are describing black smoke and, basically, are saying the strikes have begun again.

NAIDOO: All right, thanks Octavia. That's the latest on the Israeli offensive there in Lebanon. Now before I hand you back to Daryn, let me tell you, there is another development in that part of the world. Military sources telling CNN, confirming to CNN that Israeli Defense Forces have crossed the northern border into Gaza. By don't know how many but it seems that a few Israeli troops. We don't know the number actually.

Armored cars and bulldozers have crossed into the northern border of Gaza. They crossed into Gaza near the Palestinian town of Beit Hanoun. This is very close to the Israeli town of Sderot which has been the target of Palestinian missile attacks. These attacks having taken place over the last few weeks.

Ten days ago Israeli forces conducted a sweep in that area but withdrew. But tonight, just a few minutes ago they went back into northern Gaza. We'll bring you more details on this as we get it. Now Let me hand you back to Daryn.

KAGAN: Anand, thank you for that.

Let's go back to Beirut where we are hearing that there's more strikes taking place. Our Nic Robertson actually is in Beirut. And Nic, I understand you say you can hear those explosions in the background.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, just in the last 30 seconds, I've heard several explosions just in this direction here. Very hard to say exactly where they are.

But about in the last 10 minutes we've heard three very, very loud explosions, bigger than most of the other explosions we've heard. Either the amount of explosives is much bigger or they are occurring much closer to us.

Octavia was reporting a site in the southern suburbs of Beirut that was being targeted. That was probably about 40 or 50 minutes ago. In the last 10 minutes, there have been three very big explosions much closer to the center of the city. It is not clear where they are. Black smoke has been seen rising over those southern suburbs.

But at the moment, it seems that this night is much, much busier in Beirut, in terms of air strikes. Last night at about this time, it was reasonably quiet through most of the night. There were very, very few strikes in Beirut. Tonight it seems, Daryn, it's going to be much, much different.

KAGAN: And it's not just bombs coming down in Lebanon. I understand the Israelis are dropping leaflets as well. Tell us about that, Nic.

ROBERTSON: Well, that's right. I was in the port city of Sidon, which is about 20 miles south of Beirut and normally would be about half an hour's drive down the very fast coastal highway. (inaudible) now been blown up on that highway. We had to go on a detour, a two hour detour through the mountains, through very steep mountains to get to the port city of Sidon. When you get there, the bridges are blown up. When we arrived the streets were very quiet, were very empty. More explosions going off behind me right now.

When we got to the port of Sidon, it was almost empty. When we were down at the harbor area, all the fishing boats are tied up because the fishermen are too afraid to go out fishing. They're afraid that the Israeli gun boats that are out there may target them. A lot of leaflets came falling out of the sky dropped by Israeli aircraft. And they were leaflets telling the people -- and people came running out to read them. Telling the people is the resistance helping Lebanon, is Hezbollah helping Lebanon, question mark? Then the next line was very simply put. The resistance is destroying Lebanon, exclamation mark.

And on the bottom part of the piece of paper, the leaflet, the flyer, it had a picture of the leader of Hezbollah, depicted as a snake. The people I talk to there say they realize this is Israeli propaganda. That was their view. And they didn't believe it. They said it was lies and they didn't believe it. But what was very interesting, Daryn, these leaflets were dropped right over the harbor area. At the same location where these leaflets were dropped, two hours later, there was an air strike on a Lebanese army port facility right there in Sidon. Daryn?

KAGAN: Nic Robertson, live from Beirut. More with you ahead. Thank you.

Well, today Israeli war planes swooped down on targets including the center of Beirut. And actually, we just talked to Nic Robertson, so we'll move on to our next story. And the targets.

Actually, let's talk about the Israelis hitting closer to the Syrian border today. The target is a highway leading into Syria. Syria's foreign minister is calling on Arab countries to send a strong message to Israel to stop the offensive in Lebanon and Gaza. But diplomacy is not the order of the day. CNN's Aneesh Raman is along that border.

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ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is the gateway between Lebanon and Syria. And amid this crisis has seen an influx of people like this carrying what little they have, leaving most of it behind in Syria, simply fleeing the violence. We're told by officials here on the border that the majority of those coming through are Syrians.

A majority of the Syrians are poor Syrians who are working in Lebanon. They do not have cars. They simply have what little they can carry. They have walked for a few hours to just get back to Syria.

Now beyond this is the main access road that's been hit by air strikes. People are telling us they're able to drive around that, they're still able to come through. Besides the Syrians, other ex-pat Arabs have been making their way. Other tourists within Lebanon have found their way outside the country. This is where the humanitarian face of what's taking place is coming through, the story of what's happening within Lebanon.

A man we met, his five-year-old daughter. He said he couldn't bear for her to see the sights there, the bombs that are dropping. Many are simply fleeing, they tell us, for their lives. You can tell how many people are coming in. Very few are going the other way, going into Lebanon. Most of those obviously are coming through to escape the violence. And the Syrian authorities say that over 100,000 Syrians have already crossed through. Aneesh Raman, CNN, on the Syrian side of the Syrian-Lebanese border.

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KAGAN: Well, and the firepower flying in both directions across the Lebanese-Israeli border. Israeli defense officials say that dozens of Katyusha rockets have fallen on the coastal towns of Tiberias and Nahariya. Paula Hancocks in Nahariya.

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PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rockets are continuing to fall on the Israeli towns. Here in Nahariya, there have been many Katyushas landing. At this point there have been no casualties, which is amazing. Just in the past few minutes there were at least four that we heard exploding around this area all coming from this direction.

This is north. About six miles, approximately, in this direction is Lebanon. And this is where all these Katyusha rockets are coming from. But the reason there have been only four killed in the past three days, in the whole of the northern Israel area -- many more injured. But the reason there's so few casualties is because there's so few people on the streets. Many people are choosing to stay at home. Shops are not opening. The police suggested some of the shops do not open because of the danger of these rockets. Many people I've spoken to are very angry they're being almost held prisoner in their homes, that their too scared to leave. Many are starting to send young children and elderly relatives back to Tel Aviv, further south in Israel. But we did hear from an Israeli military source suggesting that they thought Hezbollah had long range missiles, which can go as far as 60 miles, obtained, from Iran and that could reach Tel Aviv.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, northern Israel.

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KAGAN: U.S. officials are working on evacuation plans for Americans in Lebanon. But they say it could take several days for those operations to get underway.

Meanwhile, if you're trying to find out about relatives visiting or living there, you can contact the State Department hot line. For those of you overseas, call 1-202-501-4444. Inside the U.S., you can call 888-407-4747. U.S. citizens abroad can register with the State Department online and details about any evacuation plans can be found on its Web site, travel.state.gov. Look under the heading "travel warnings" on the left side of the page.

Later in the hour we'll take a closer look at what can be done diplomatically to help resolve it. I'll talk with the former U.S. ambassador to Israel. He'll join us live from Washington.

KAGAN: Also, another major showdown, this one involving North Korea. The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution demanding that Pyongyang suspend its missile program. North Korea immediately rejected that and vowed to continue its missile test. CNN's Zain Verjee follows that story from Seoul, South Korea and she's with us by phone.

Zain?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR (on phone): Daryn, as you said, North Korea says it totally rejects the UN resolution just passed. The resolution condemns North Korea's recent missile test and it also imposes weapons related sanctions on North Korea. The North Korean ambassador to the UN, Park Gil-Yong (ph), essentially says that the resolution aims to isolate and to pressure North Korea. He went on to say North Korea has the right to test missiles. It's not a signature to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, it said as well. It said it had a right to self defense. It also added that look, the Bush administration has broken previous agreements with North Korea, it's also broken agreements back in September 19th of 2005 when the U.S. went on to impose financial sanctions on North Korea. He said that North Korea will continue missile launches in the future. The U.S. position has always been this. Look, return to the six-party talks, give up your weapons program. And only then, the U.S. says, we'll negotiate on the issues that North Koreans want.

KAGAN: Zain, depending on the time of day, what kind of reaction of the news of what's happened at the UN Security Council - How is that -- what kind of reaction is that getting in South Korea?

VERJEE: We haven't been able to speak to any South Koreans or South Korean officials for reaction. But just to give you a little context from South Korea. More than any other country, South Korea has invested a political and economic capital in North Korea. The former president Kim Dae Jung always proceed a policy that's known as the sunshine policy that engages North Korea, showers them with aid, makes them not so desperate. Many South koreans have said in the past deep down they want reunification.

There's also a big fear in the region, particularly South Korea - and China also -- that if North Korea collapses, they'll end up seeing millions of refugees on their border, in their country, and that would essentially destabilize the South. So South Korea would suffer if there was any North Korean meltdown.

And just a final point, South koreans want to engage North Korea. That's always been the path since the sunshine policy. The U.S., however, has always taken did -- or in recent times has taken a harder line toward North Korea and pushing for sanctions and also, as we see, this resolution just being passed, pushes that forward. There has been a policy difference between the way that the South Koreans want to handle the issue versus how the U.S. wants to handle the issue. But this resolution really shows some unanimity and pushes it forward.

Daryn?

KAGAN: Zain Verjee with us on the phone from South Korea in Seoul. Thank you.

Presidential politics in the Mid-East crisis. World leaders in the G-8 summit at odds over how to end the violence.

Also, more than 70,000 acres scorched and the threat remains. We go live to California where emergency crews are battling a raging wildfire.

And searching for answers 10 years later. Tonight, a special look back at TWA Flight 800. You're watching CNN SATURDAY NIGHT. We're back in a moment.

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KAGAN: Taking look at our international desk at CNN headquarters in Atlanta, working around the clock, bringing you the latest on what's happening in the Middle East as well as North Korea and around the world.

Speaking of Israel, it has declared -- well, it's getting close to a state of emergency. Here's what we know. Jerusalem putting the army in charge of public services and public places. The order applies to the Galilee region. It aims to put people out of the range of rocket fire from Lebanon.

The Hezbollah headquarters and the Hamas headquarters both in Beirut both struck today by Israeli bombs. It was the first Israeli air strike in the center of the Lebanese capital.

And as for U.S. citizens trapped in a sealed-off Lebanon, the State Department, the Defense Department are both making evacuation plans. Whether it will be by air or by sea or where has yet to be decided.

The crisis in the Middle East cast a shadow over the opening of the G-8 summit. Our Suzanne Malveaux is in St. Petersburg, Russia, with President Bush.

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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Leaders of the powerful Group of Eight industrial nations arrived in St. Petersburg for summit talks amid growing concern over an all-out war erupting in the Middle East. But differences between the U.S. and Russia over the crisis dimmed hopes of a unified response. Emerging from their meeting in palace complex, Presidents Bush and Putin called for an end to the violence but staked out different views on Israel's continuing military strikes on Lebanon.

GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: The best way to stop the violence is for Hezbollah to lay down its arms and stop attacking and, therefore, I call upon Syria to exert influence over Hezbollah.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The use of force should be balanced.

MALVEAUX: G-8 leaders are expected to issue a joint statement condemning the violence, but it's unclear whether it will carry much clout given their differences. Both presidents are also split over how to force North Korea and Iran to abandon nuclear programs, but Putin warned against taking sharp action saying ...

PUTIN: I have to say this is not some kind of plot against a particular country. We'll not participate in any crusades, in any holy alliances.

MALVEAUX: The two leaders failed to see eye-to-eye over trade. Marathon talks broke down Saturday over bringing Russia into the World Trade Organization, which Putin had hoped would come together before the G-8 summit. U.S. officials say the deal soured because Russia failed to offer trade concessions that would satisfy the U.S. Congress. Another part of contention, Russia's reported backsliding on democratic reforms. While Mr. Bush kept his promise not to publicly lecture Putin over it, gently saying ...

BUSH: I talked about my desire to promote institutional change in parts of the world like Iraq where there's a free press and free religion. And I told him that a lot of people in our country, you know, would hope that Russia would do the same thing.

MALVEAUX: Putin replied with a sharp comeback.

PUTIN: We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy as they have in Iraq, I will tell you quite honestly. BUSH: Just wait.

MALVEAUX (on camera): The two leaders did agree on a measure to combat nuclear terrorism. Sunday all eight leaders officially begin their talks. The top priority, the Middle East crisis. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, St. Petersburg, Russia.

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KAGAN: Let's get more on this from our senior political analyst Bill Schneider joining us from Washington. Bill, the Middle East has not been an area that the Bush administration has wanted to have a high profile in terms of the peace process between Israel and its neighbors.

BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN ANALYST: That is certainly correct. And the United States is really now caught without a policy here. I spoke to several analysts who said that may be the price that the United States is paying for having put the Israel-Palestine issue on the back burner for most of the last five years paying much more attention to Iraq, Iran and other issues. Now of course we have three crises in the Middle East. We have the Iranian nuclear crisis, we have the growing sectarian violence in Iraq and now the outbreak of open warfare between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah.

KAGAN: And not to mention between Israel and the Palestinians. To make that a side story to that. Now, President Bush in recent days has come out, he won't criticize the Israelis but today he did come out and say he would like them to stay away from civilian targets.

SCHNEIDER: Yes, the United States urging restraint on Israel. The only party in this in which the United States has any real influence. He wants the Israelis to use restraint in its violence. Notice that the Israelis have not yet had and probably will not have any ground invasion. The prime minister seems to have ruled that out. And of course there's concern about the possibility of getting Syria involved and having a larger regional war. The United States has been very pointed in saying, we do not want a regional conflict to broaden.

KAGAN: So what does this mean for President Bush?

SCHNEIDER: Well, it means that President Bush is really on the spot. He doesn't really have a policy. The chickens are coming home to roost here in the Middle East. And he's got to exert influence, as best he can, through third parties, through international pressure. Those are not the ways he prefers to operate. But he's got to rely on other countries and he's got to rely on the UN. He tried it with the G-8. He didn't get very far. He has got to rely on others really to have influence. Look, this conflict was provoked by hams and Hezbollah, radical Islamism organizations. The first Israel-Palestine conflict to be provoked really by radical Islamists. We don't have much influence with those parties.

We have influence with Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority but they don't have a lot of control over what Hamas and Hezbollah do. Who's pulling the strings? A lot of Americans suspect Syria and Iran, but we don't have very much contact with either of them either. So we're forced to rely on others.

KAGAN: We will be watching. Bill Schneider, thank you.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

KAGAN: Two separate groups with one common goal. We'll take a closer look at the militants in the Middle East, the two that Bill was just talking about. That's coming up at the bottom of the hour.

But first, monitoring news reports all over the world to make sure you stay informed. CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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KAGAN: We're coming up on the half hour. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's get the latest developments on what's happening in the Middle East and go to Anand Naidoo at our update desk.

Anand?

NAIDOO: Thanks, Daryn. The Israeli offensive has been escalating by the hour. Today saw the heaviest bombing by the Israeli air force in north and south Lebanon. In the past 20 minutes, there's been renewed attacks on the southern suburbs of Beirut. For the latest, let's go to our Nic Robertson. He's in the Lebanese capital.

Nic?

ROBERTSON: Well, Anand, we've been able to hear the sounds of the missiles impacting on southern Beirut, resonating down around this area. Low rumblings at times. Other times we've heard sharp impacts. But also in the last half an hour, more specifically in the last 10 minutes there was a very loud explosion, very close to where we're at in the center of Beirut, possibly down in the coastal part, perhaps about half a mile away from where we are right now.

There were perhaps in the last half an hour about four or five very loud explosions that appeared to be much closer to us than those explosions we've heard going off in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

There are reports from some of the local media here that it is bridges and tunnels in the area of Beirut Airport that are being targeted. I traveled around the Beirut Airport earlier on today. There were several sections of highway that go over bridges, pass through very modern tunnel systems. It's not clear exactly what's being targeted, but it is that area of Beirut that appears to be under attack right now.

Plus, some other parts in the center that are not clear to us. We don't know exactly what's being hit, but we do know the coastal facilities on the coast have been the target through today. So perhaps these very loud explosions in the center of the city are connected with something right along the coast not far away from where we are, Anand.

ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR: Nic, in one of the earlier raids, the israeli air force hit Lebanese army targets. They have been hitting hezbollah targets throughout the day, but in this particular raid, they hit a Lebanese army target. What should we read into that?

ROBERTSON: I think what we should read into that -- and the best analysis we've had on background from various different places here -- is that the Lebanese army in the port of Sidon, where I was today, in other locations along the coast, have been at sites where there may have been equipment, radar equipment or such like, monitoring coastal activity of Israeli naval vessels that perhaps -- and this is only a perhaps -- that perhaps the Israelis suspect may have somehow been used in connection with the attack on their ship that was apparently hit by a Hezbollah drone aircraft carrying a missile last night.

That's the best analysis that we've had. It's perhaps not a fully accurate analysis, but that appears to be why it is not perhaps the Lebanese army so much that's being targeted but the sites that they're at, that the Israelis believe there's equipment there, for whatever reason, that they want to destroy and are willing to sacrifice, kill members of the Lebanese army. At least one member has been killed today, 11 others injured in such attacks. And these striking the Lebanese army here.

NAIDOO: All right, Nic. Thanks for the update. Tensions still very high in Lebanon. It's the early hours, almost 1:30 a.m., Lebanese time. Back to Daryn, now.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Anand, thank you.

Let's go ahead and take a look at other headlines in the news right now. The crisis in the Middle East is consuming the G8 summit in Russia. Right now, President Bush and other world leaders are not agreeing on a joint response. The president wants Hezbollah militants to be identified as the main culprits. Other countries say Israel is being too aggressive.

Kidnapped in Iraq. Police say as many as 50 of Iraq's Olympic athletes and officials were abducted today at a cultural center in Baghdad. Among them, the chief of Iraq's Olympic committee. Officials say the kidnappers were dressed as Iraqi police or soldiers.

A unanimous vote in the U.N. Security Council today demanding North Korea suspend its missile program. It orders U.N. members not to supply North Korea with materials or technology for its weapons program. North Korea's U.N. ambassador says Pyongyang totally rejects the measure.

A brutal battle in southern California. Two fires east of L.A. have merged into one massive inferno. While they're making some progress trying to contain the blaze, blistering temperatures and high winds are slowing them down. So far, the fire has scorched more than 71,000 acres. A live report from southern California coming up.

Much more on that, plus the space shuttle Discovery sailing away from the international space station today as NASA prepares to bring Discovery home. The shuttle left behind a third full-time crew member aboard the international space station. Discovery arrived at the station nine days ago. It's due back on Earth on Monday.

And we'll have the latest from the Middle East. Also southern California and the fires just ahead. Right now, a quick break. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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KAGAN: Let's review what we know right now about what is happening in the Middle East. Four straight days of soaring tension. Air strikes, rocket attacks, also a rising human toll. Here is what we know.

The diplomatic route. Diplomats from 18 mostly Muslim nations speaking with one voice against Israeli action against Lebanon. It was an emergency meeting of the Arab League. Delgates implored the U.N. Security Council to intervene.

Israeli forces knocked out roads and bridges between Lebanon and Syria today. That was the closest air strike to the Syrian border yet in this conflict. And then there's Israel's other front in the conflict, Gaza. Actually, the IDF confirms to CNN that Israeli troops and tanks have entered northern Gaza. Their destination and their mission unknown.

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, joins me now, talking about the region's troubled history. He is in Washington.

Mr. Ambassador, good evening. Thanks for being here with us.

MARTIN INDYK, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: Thank you for having me.

KAGAN: Would like to review the events of the day. First of all, Israel getting closer and closer to the Lebanese border with Syria. What do you make of that?

INDYK: Well, as far as I can understand it, the Israeli military strategy is to take down Hezbollah's infrastructure, which includes its supply of rockets, all of its headquarters, bunkers. The coastal attacks were indeed to take out the naval radars that were used to strike on an Israeli ship yesterday.

And the roads that go all the way to the Syria border are roads that they are concerned will be used to re-supply Hezbollah once they've, hopefully, in their view, destroyed the rockets. So that appears to be what they're doing today.

KAGAN: I had a chance to interview a spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry earlier today asking him about what Israel's ultimate intention was. He kept referring to a response, "This is a response to an unprovoked attack." But in terms of looking forward, what the endgame is here, he really didn't have an answer for me. What do you think, ultimately, Israel's intention is?

INDYK: Well, their intention is basically to render Hezbollah no longer effective, particularly on the southern border where Hezbollah has been...

KAGAN: But to do that by themselves, or to try to draw Lebanon in it to get the Lebanese military to go after Hezbollah?

INDYK: Well, no, I don't think there's any expectation the Lebanese military is capable of doing anything like that. I think that -- I'm not sure really this is the Israeli strategy, but I think the overall approach would have to be that, number one, to try to use military force to weaken Hezbollah's capabilities, particularly in the south, where they have thousands of rockets and even missiles.

And to create a situation in which the Lebanese government is responding to the demands of the international community that Hezbollah disarm. After all, if you remember, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559, which required the Syrians to leave Lebanon, which they did, also required Hezbollah to disarm.

But that was never implemented. If the G8 were now to call for the implementation of that resolution, they certainly -- most of the G8 voted for it at the Security Council. It was unanimously passed.

That would provide a context in which Gezbollah would be placed under request pressure and the Lebanese government could go to them and say, "Gentlemen, enough of this. You're destroying our country with your arbitrary (ph) reactions. The national community is demanding that you disarm. And if you don't, our country is going to be taken back another 20 years."

KAGAN: You make it all sound so civilized. Let's talk about what the Lebanese prime minister called for today. He would like to see either the U.S. or U.N. get involved in brokering some kind of cease-fire between all these parties. Do you think that's going to happen?

INDYK: Well, it was very interesting what he said. He didn't say what I just said, but he came awfully close to it. He said -- as you said, he called for the U.N. to intervene. He talked about the need for the Lebanese government to extend its sovereignty throughout Lebanon, which means to the south.

Interestingly, he introduced the concept of Israel and Lebanon going back to the 1949 armistice agreement, which is a signal to Israel that he's prepared to deal directly with them, because that was the last time Lebanon did deal directly with Israel.

And, as I say, the one thing that was missing was the call for the disarmament of Hezbollah. He can't do that. He's too weak to do that within the Lebanese political structure. But if the international community does that, then there is the framework for a solution once Hezbollah is taken to the point where it cries uncle.

KAGAN: Former ambassador Martin Indyk. Thank you for your insight into the developments of the day, sir.

INDYK: Thanks for having me.

KAGAN: Thank you.

To California now, where more than 71,000 acres charred and still going. Straight ahead, we'll go live to California for the very latest on the wildfires.

But first, ten years later, a look back at TWA flight 800. We'll explore if our skies are any safer now. You're watching CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

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KAGAN: It is approaching 2:00 a.m. in Lebanon and Israel, and we're watching for signs of renewed air strikes or rocket fire. Here's what we know at this hour. Israeli warplanes peppered Lebanon with air strikes today. They targeted roads and bridges near the Syrian border and Hezbollah targets in central Beirut.

Militants in Lebanon fired barrage after barrage of Katyusha rockets deep into Israel, more than 75 in all. Israelis living within 30 miles of the border are staying close to bomb shelters. A diplomatic battle appears also to be at a stalemate. The U.N. Security Council is split over Israel's response to militant activity in Gaza and Lebanon. And the head of the Arab League today declared the Middle East peace process to be dead.

Now, among the 25,000 Americans that are stranded in Lebanon, American students studying in Beirut this summer, joining me by phone is Ryan Burnette. He's from Frankfurt, Kentucky, and has been taking a course at the Lebanese American University in Beirut.

Ryan, hello.

RYAN BURNETTE, STRANDED AMERICAN STUDENT: Hello.

KAGAN: Not exactly the summer study you signed up for.

BURNETTE: Not really what I planned on.

KAGAN: No. What's it like there right now?

BURNETTE: Well, we've moved actually into a hotel. We were originally in our apartment, which was near Lebanese American University. And the bombings and shellings were getting a little too close for comfort, so we decided to move on into a hotel.

KAGAN: Now, when you say "we," is it you and other students? Is the school coordinating this?

BURNETTE: Currently, there's me and three other students. The program actually -- we kind of got separated during the whole crisis. And the four of us decided to stay back in Beirut.

KAGAN: Because I know there was some talk maybe of moving the Americans into Syria. But that doesn't appear like it's going to happen.

BURNETTE: Moving our program into Syria?

KAGAN: There was some talk of moving you to someplace else.

BURNETTE: Well, they moved part of the program to Byblos. And there was talk of -- the rumor was that they were going to move us Byblos on to Syria and then across the border there. But that just turned out to be a rumor.

KAGAN: Are you going to try to get out with the U.S. military? What's your plan?

BURNETTE: That would be the plan now. Apparently, from what we're hearing here, the country's infrastructure has pretty much been destroyed, and you really can't get around by road anymore. So it seems like we're stuck in Veirut currently.

KAGAN: And real quickly, I know the family back in Frankfurt, Kentucky, must be frantic. Any words for them?

BURNETTE: Just to stay strong. We're safe here, all considering. So try not to worry too much.

KAGAN: All right. Well, we wish you good luck staying safe and getting out and getting back home to Kentucky.

BURNETTE: Well, thank you.

KAGAN: All right. Ryan Burnette on the phone with us from Beirut.

Amazing, but it's been ten years since one of the world's worst airline disasters, the midair explosion of TWA Flight 800, which killed all 230 people onboard. This weekend, "CNN PRESENTS" take a look back at the catastrophe and asks the chilling question, are we any safer now?

Our David Mattingly worked on this special. Worked on it, gave birth to with blood, sweat and tears. And you have a preview for us?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It's coming on just a little later tonight. And we're looking at the ten year anniversary and raisingy the question, why, after ten years after this tragedy, are people asking the question why could this happen again?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MCCLAINE, 737 PILOT: It blew up in the air, and then we saw two fire balls go down to the water.

MATTINGLY: That was the voice of David McClaine, piloting a 737 over Long Island. A bright light caught his eye.

MCCLAINE: And all of a sudden, boom. And almost instantly, a fraction of a second later, two streams of flames came out the bottom of it. MATTINGLY: Another pilot, Captain Paul Whelan, was in the cockpit of a Virgin Atlantic 747. He wrote this entry in his logbook. "Saw TWA 800 crash."

PAUL WHELAN, 747 PILOT: I could the cigar tube of the fuselage and the windows and bits falling off, fire everywhere, and it the falling into the sea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE:A 747 that took off from Kennedy Airport is missing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A 747 aircraft has exploded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An explosion in the Atlantic Ocean being reported.

MATTINGLY: Clyde Willis, captain of a dredging company boat, was first at the scene.

CLYDE WILLIS, BOAT CAPTAIN: The water was just burning. And it kind of looked like it was burning maybe two foot off the water. I mean, it was just like a wall of fire.

MATTINGLY: Flames and wreckage for as far as the eye could see.

WILLIS: Wings, tail section, cushions, seats, anything that would float, really. Then we saw the first body. And it appeared to be like a 12-year-old girl.

MATTINGLY (on-camera): Had you ever seen anything like this before in your life?

WILLIS: Never. And hope I don't ever see it again.

MATTINGLY (voiceover): By the end of the week, 140 bodies had been recovered. One was Brenda Siebert, the younger of the two sisters from Missouri, a free spirit who once came home with a tattoo on her shoulder that her mother disliked.

HELEN SIEBERT, VICTIM'S MOTHER: I said, "You realize that is a forever thing, and you may change your mind and it's too bad." And I went on and on and on to her. And when it happened, the one thing she was identified so quickly was because of the tattoo. And that came back. I kind of laughed like, "Yes, Brenda knew what she was doing, I guess."

MATTINGLY: It was a mixed blessing for Helen Seibert when the official notification came.

SIEBERT: He said, "We found her." And I remember hanging up the phone and running through the house so happy they found her. But in the same moment, I realized she was gone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: At first, everyone thought this was a case of terrorism, but it did not turn out to be that way. Once they started examining all the pieces that came out of the water, no traces of high explosives. Investigators eventually narrowed it down to what they believe was a spark inside the center fuel tank.

KAGAN: Now, people flying today are wondering could that same type of thing happen now?

MATTINGLY: The FAA is predicting it could happen again four times over the next 50 years, and they are in the midst of an argument with the industry over equipment that say could end this threat for good.

KAGAN: So that special's starting in a few minutes here on CNN. Looking forward to seeing the whole two hours.

"NO SURVIVORS," an all-new "CNN PRESENTS" with David Mattingly. David, thank you.

But before we do that, we are going live to southern California. We'll look at the Middle East, what's happening there.

Also, the California wildfires, the charred remains. Nearly 4,000 firefighters working in blistering temperatures. We'll go live to California.

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KAGAN: Fighting the fires in California. Two huge wildfires have now merged into one. Our Dan Simon is live in Pioneer Town, once famous as a western set for television shows.

Dan, hello.

DAN SIMON, Hi, Daryn. Well, while firefighters continue to battle this blaze, others are coming home to devastation. We are standing in what was somebody's living room. This was a three-bedroom house. And, as you can see, it's totally leveled. A husband and wife lived here.

Today, they came back to see if they could find anything. And as you can tell, it was pretty tough. They took some stuff and just basically dumped it here in the corner. You can see some silverware here, a couple of coffee mugs.

You can see a little box here that says "grandmother." And over here, I think this is pretty amazing. Guess what this is. This is actually the refrigerator totally melted down here. So it was pretty tough for this husband and wife. But there actually was one bright spot. And I mean that literally. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOANNE KRETSCHMER, LOST HOME: I think this is awesome. Finding my original wedding ring. And the diamond is still showing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We grew up here, you know. So it's got all these memories and stuff of growing up in this house. So we're going to try to rebuild it pretty much the same as it was.

KRETSCHMER: With a bigger bathroom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we'll tweak it a little.

SIMON: Always nice to see that somebody can find some humor in this. Over here is where the garage was. And take a look at these cars. Totally charred. And, Daryn, it's always a bit ironic. When you look across the street, you can see that there's a house totally untouched. These guys were unlucky. Those folks were obviously fortunate.

Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: What's the status of fighting the fire, Dan?

SIMON: Right now, we're looking at 40 percent containment. The winds were pretty calm today. Temperature is a bit cooler, despite the fact that we're in triple digit temperatures. But firefighters tell me they're making good progress, Daryn.

KAGAN: Dan Simon in southern California. Dan, thank you.

There's a lot more on CNN tonight. Up next at 7:00 Eastern, a special two-hour "CNN PRESENTS: NO SURVIVORS," why TWA 800 could happen again.

And at 9:00, Larry's guest tonight, former vice president Al Gore. And then I'll be back at 10:00 Eastern. A check of the hour's headlines is coming up next. And then, CNN PRESENTS. I'm Daryn Kagan.

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