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CNN Live Saturday

Israel Says Military Incursion is Only to Form Safe Zone at Border Between Itself and Lebanon; Hezbollah Has Launched Missiles into Northern Israel

Aired July 22, 2006 - 13:30   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: It may look like the beginning of a ground attack but they say it's a limited incursion. Why Israeli tanks crossed into southern Lebanon today.
And home at last, more U.S. evacuees arrive on U.S. soil.

From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield with a special edition of CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

We have CNN reporters across the Middle East watching the crisis unfold, from every angle. And here at CNN headquarters, our International Desk is monitoring developments constantly so you can get the information immediately.

Let's check in right now with Randi Kaye at the update desk with the latest developments on this crisis -- Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, once again, Fred.

We are wanting to update you on claims from Hezbollah, inside Lebanon, claiming that it has destroyed three Israeli tanks inside Lebanon. We've been watching the area of Maroun al-Ras throughout the day, where Israeli tanks have rolled in.

And what we're hearing now is that Hezbollah has caused 20 casualties of Israelis in this area. A spokesman for the Israeli military, though -- this is all according to the Associated Press -- said he had no information about the tanks being hit or about casualties and the fighting around the village.

Hezbollah, though, is saying in a statement just read on its Al- Manar TV that an epic battle was taking place in the border village. Saying that our -- I'm quoting here, "our mujahadin fighters are fighting valiantly," said the statement. Hezbollah warning the Israelis to expect more resistance if they invaded on the ground, which they are doing today.

The battle was an example, again quoting, "an example of what awaits the Zionists in every village, town and position." That is a statement read on Lebanese television by Hezbollah.

We also want to show you some pictures from the area of Nahariya, coming to us from APTN.

The Israeli Ambulance Service is telling APTN that two have been injured and ten have suffered shock in this rocket attack. We're talking about Hezbollah rockets, the Katyusha rockets, hitting this area of Nahariya, the target of numerous attacks in the last week.

As far where Nahariya is located, it's in Northern Israel, not far from Haifa. It's northwest of Haifa, which is right on the Lebanese-Israeli border, just a few kilometers from the border.

Also, we want to clarify some information that we're getting in regarding a possible cease-fire in this military conflict.

Our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, speaking with her diplomatic sources, telling us that a cease-fire could happen within the next two or three weeks.

Now what that means is that this military conflict would also be allowed to continue for the next two or three weeks, followed by a cease-fire.

Sources are telling her, Christiane Amanpour, that a full-scale ground invasion is not expected.

What would happen here is the Israeli forces would go in, pinpoint their targets and then get out.

But wherever they do go, they would also try and take control over those areas.

Once the cease-fire happens -- this is key -- what's being called a new robust international force would be called on to take control of southern Lebanon, along with the Lebanese army.

The international community, what's happening here, seems to be allowing time for Israel to deal with Hezbollah before it steps in.

So that is some new information coming from Christiane Amanpour related to a possible cease-fire and a new international force to take control of southern Lebanon.

Fred, that is the very latest, as we continue to monitor everything coming from here the Middle East here on the International Desk.

WHITFIELD: All right, Randi Kaye, thanks so much.

Here's some other thing we know right now.

Israeli tanks and troops rolled across the border and took control of a Lebanese village today. Israeli sources stay it was a limited operation designed to create a half-mile security buffer zone.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is preparing to leave for the Middle East tomorrow.

President Bush says her mission will focus on developing a strategy to confront Hezbollah as well as the countries Mr. Bush accuses of helping Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. And another plane landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport today bringing another 250 evacuees from Lebanon home to the United States.

New explosions reported in Tyre, Lebanon, within the past hour. CNN's Karl Penhaul is there.

And earlier, Karl, you reported that these Israeli military flights dropped maybe three bombs? What's the latest?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Fredricka. In the last three or four minutes there's also been another loud explosion. I would guess another 500-pound bomb dropped by one of the Israeli warplanes that have been flying over here around the clock, really, for certainly the five days that we've been here in town.

Now, the area seems to have come under attack late this afternoon in early evening time here. There's an area in the southern suburb is Tyre, in fact, just beyond the southern Suburb, is Tyre, about three, four miles from our position now, an area of fields, from what I can make out from our position.

And it is from that area that, in the course of the afternoon, we heard the thud of what we presume has been Hezbollah missiles going up in the air, often to the direction of Israel.

And so this could be a response by the Israeli military specifically to those attacked, although there has been sustained campaign, I'd have to say, over the last four or five days, an around- the-clock campaign to bomb positions in and around Tyre -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl Penhaul, in Tyre, Lebanon. Thank you so much.

Around Beirut, more Israeli air strikes today. Among the targets, telephone and television transmission towers. CNN's Alessio Vinci joins me now from the Lebanese capital.

And the casualties seem to mount from that location as well, Alessio?

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct, Fredricka. A lot of activity, of course, in the southern part of the country to the south from here. But Israeli warplanes also targeting specific targets and locations to the north of Beirut and in the northern region of Lebanon, specifically targeting television towers, telecommunication towers.

We understand that six of them have been knocked down throughout this day. Television such as Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, the Al-Manar television, controlled by Hezbollah, as well as Future Television, all went off the air throughout the northern part of Lebanon.

And we also understand that the telephone system, the cell phone system, has completely gone down. And some land lines have also been disrupted. So clearly here, the Israeli military trying to isolate also the northern part of country, especially boarding with Syria.

Israel obviously charging the Hezbollah military and militia has actually been refurbished and resupplied by Syria from the border region there.

We understand that during these attacks, one television station employee has been killed from the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, two have been injured.

We've seen television pictures of extensive damage over there as well as firemen trying to contain the fire there. So obviously, a very large attack throughout the northern part of Israel.

And we understand also that another attack took place in the eastern Bekaa Valley, east from here. There, it is unclear what exactly was targeted, but Israelis continue to pound not just the southern part of country but also the north and east. Fredricka, back to you.

WHITFIELD: Alessio Vinci, thanks so much, from Beirut.

In northern Israel, Hezbollah rockets are raining down there today as well. And air raid sirens have been pounding the port city of Haifa. Our Fionnuala Sweeney is there -- Fionnuala?

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Fredricka, there have been a number of barrages along northern Israel today. Two people injured in a Sefat (ph) town in northern Israel and ten other the injured about 20 minutes from here in the towns of Nahariya and Karmiel.

And here in Haifa, the air raid warning sirens went off nine times. One time a number of rockets came down, seven in all. They fell in an open space. And no one was injured.

But it's an indication that Hezbollah still has the capability to fire missiles, more than 30, 40 missiles, rockets being fired across the band of northern Israel.

So on day 11, as it draws to an end of this conflict, there seems no end in sight to the tension across northern Israel -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Fionnuala, thanks so much for that update from Haifa.

CNN's coverage of the Middle East crisis continues live throughout the day.

And in "PRIME TIME," be sure to catch "This Week at War," hosted by CNN's John Roberts. That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern this evening.

Then, at 8:00, our Anderson Cooper takes you inside Hezbollah. That's on a special "CNN PRESENTS."

At 9:00 Eastern, join 'LARRY KING LIVE" for the very latest on the Middle East crisis. Then, a special edition of "ANDERSON COOPER: AC 360," live from Beirut, Lebanon, comes your way beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.

Israel warns people in southern Lebanon to start moving north as troops move across the border. Is this the start to an all-out ground assault? We'll hear from the Israeli military.

And later, we're there as the U.S. Marines return to Lebanon to rescue Americans caught in the cross fire.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Now, an update on the crisis in the Middle East. Israel's military says its incursion into south Lebanon today was an attempt to create a half-mile buffer zone not a full-scale ground invasion. Sources tell CNN the current operation could last another two or three weeks.

Hezbollah guerrillas launched more rockets into northern Israel. At least two Israelis were hurt in the latest barrage. And cars were set on fire.

Israeli warplanes wiped out communications facilities in Northern Lebanon today, disrupting television and phone service. One Lebanese television worker was killed and two others injured in the attacks.

More now on the strategy of Israeli troops inside southern Lebanon. CNN's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Israeli warplanes are dropping bombs and messages. The latest flurry of leaflets tells residents of southern Lebanon to move back, about 25 miles back from the border with Israel.

The Israeli generals want the battlefield, quote, "free of civilian restrictions."

After days of artillery fire, war from the air, and a limited number of troops on the ground, Israel is preparing now for a possible large-scale ground invasion, mobilizing all its forces, even reserves.

SHUKI SHACHAR, DEP. CMDR. NORTHERN COMMAND: Some of the forces are active forces coming from different sectors of country, reinforcing the active forces in Lebanon.

The reserve units, some of them are going to the northern border with Lebanon. All the reinforcements are going to the direction of Lebanon.

AMANPOUR: A senior military source says Israel already has several battalions on the ground in southern Lebanon. That's more than 1,000 troops.

But General Shuki Shachar would only confirm he does have forces there.

SHACHAR: We entered with armor forces and engineer forces. And we started systematically to destroy the Hezbollah positions along the border.

AMANPOUR: Israeli infantry, he says, have crossed anywhere between a mile and a few miles into Lebanon. And some special forces are even deeper in, because they can't get some of the targets from the air.

SHACHAR: We identified bunkers in the open area that, without entering through the place itself and looking on the ground for this camouflaged bunkers, we would never have found them.

AMANPOUR: General Shachar won't say whether these tanks and troops moving towards the border means that a ground invasion has been authorized. Just that the army is ready and evaluating the need minute by minute.

(on camera): With troops and armor being redeployed from all over the country to the northern battle front, Israelis are watching to see what happens next with concern.

(voice-over): As one former tank commander told me, Israel going back into Lebanon is like the United States going back into Vietnam.

For now, though, the Israeli People overwhelmingly back the Strong military response, according to the first poll taken since the war began ten days ago.

Will that change if Hezbollah guerrillas mount stiff resistance? And a ground battle still going on near Avivim at the border, Hezbollah has already killed several Israeli soldiers, injured others and taken out a tank. And promises more.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Matula, northern Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: With more now on this Israeli incursion, let's check in with Randi Kaye.

KAYE: Hi, Fred.

We want to take you now live to Jerusalem. There is an international -- Israeli defense forces news conference under way. It started just a few minutes ago. We want to listen to major General Yitzhak Gershon. He's talking about the status of military operations in northern Israel.

YITZHAK GERSHON, GENERAL, ISRAEL ARMY (Through translator): ... services are required to open and supply the various needs of the population, together with the Ministry of Education and the mayor is -- we are going to allow, starting as of tomorrow, the opening of special educational institutes when the activities in them are done in protected areas.

The offices of the Home Front Command will approve of those particular institutions whenever there are places, protected areas, activities for children can be done.

You can get all the instructions in the Home Front Command on that particular telephone.

Citizens of Israel, we are facing a lengthy campaign. But I'm sure that making sure that the instructions are obeyed and the continuation of our resilience will serve as the key for the success of this just war to which we have been dragged.

The instructions of the Home Front Command to the citizens in Israel, especially in the north, we're going to soon talk with the commentators that we...

KAYE: Once again, we were listening there to a live news conference, news briefing, in Jerusalem. The Israeli defense forces Major General Yitzhak Gershon talking about the status of military operations in northern Israel and telling the viewers there that this is going to be a lengthy military campaign. And he does believe that the continuation of resilience will be the key to the success of a "just war," as he called it.

Fred, the very latest from Jerusalem.

WHITFIELD: All right, Randi, thanks so much.

And more on the Middle East crisis right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The consequences of war on both sides of the border. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is preparing to head to the Middle East. She leaves tomorrow after a White House meeting with Saudi officials.

First stop, Israel and the West Bank. Rice will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Then, it's on to Rome to talk to Lebanese and European officials.

President Bush says Rice will focus on ways to best resolve the crisis, including putting pressure on Hamas and Hezbollah and their supporters.

In his weekly radio address today, the president again stressed that Israel has the right to defend itself. And he said, the road map to peace must continue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America remains committed to lasting peace in the Middle East. The United States and our partners will continue to seek a return to the road map for peace in the Middle East, which sets out the pathway to establishing a viable democratic Palestinian state that will live in peace with Israel.

We will continue top support moderate leaders, like Palestinian Authority President Abbas. We will continue to call on Hamas to end its acts of terror. And now, more than ever, the Palestinians need leaders who are not compromised by terror and who will help the Palestinian people provide a future for their children base on regional peace and security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Hundreds of Americans evacuees from Lebanon are arriving back in the U.S. this weekend. They're heading home on five U.S. military flights.

This was a scene earlier today in Philadelphia, as some of the evacuees arrived at the city's International Airport, and then, a very similar scene, people overjoyed, happy, crying, with tears at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

Officials say 2,000 American evacuees are expected to be sent back to the U.S. today and another 2,000 tomorrow.

When the fighting broke out in the Middle East, 25,000 Americans were believed to be in Lebanon. While thousands planned to leave, many others decided to stay put.

It's been 23 years since the U.S. Marine Corps pulled out of Lebanon after the deadly bombing of their barracks in Beirut. Now they're a part of the U.S. Force sent to Lebanon. We'll have more on that in a moment.

Right now, let's go to some developments with Randi Kaye at the update desk.

KAYE: Fred, we want to update you on news coming to CNN's International Desk from Reuters. Reuters is reporting -- and we are trying to independently confirm this -- that Israeli troops have ousted Hezbollah guerrillas from the key southern Lebanese town Maroun al-Ras. That is that Lebanese border village that we have been telling you all day today. That is where the Israeli tanks rolled in there. It is just across from the Israeli city of Avivim.

And we have seen the Israeli tanks. We have seen the shelling, the tanks rolling through. Apparently, these armored vehicles knocked down a border fence at the U.N observation post. Fighting there now for quite some time.

But this news coming to us from Reuters that Israeli troops have ousted, completely ousted, Hezbollah guerrillas from these key southern Lebanese town of Maroun al-Ras after quite a bit of fighting.

And this is according to ground forces commander, Major General Bennie Gants, apparently saying this on -- to Reuters.

We are, once again, trying to confirm that here at CNN's International Desk. But that is the word coming from there.

Now, this certainly doesn't -- it doesn't steam agree with what Hezbollah has been saying. Hezbollah has been saying it's denying any of these tanks there and that it is fighting with great force against the Israeli forces.

So we will certainly try to confirm independently and report right back to you -- Fred?

WHITFIELD: Because, Randi, this is the same location, Maroun al- Ras, where earlier it was reported the Hezbollah had said that they had actually targeted Israeli tanks there, correct?

KAYE: Absolutely. We are hearing that -- this is where much of the fighting that we've been seeing has been occurring today. And Hezbollah has been saying that they've -- there has been at least 20 casualties. They've destroyed three Israeli tanks.

The Israeli forces are not confirming any of that for us or any of that for anybody, in fact.

So right now, all we can tell you is that Israeli troops are saying, according to Reuters, that they have ousted the Hezbollah guerrillas from this key southern town where the tanks rolled through. And you're looking at it right there.

Whether or not they truly have -- certainly not so, according to Hezbollah -- but we will confirm what we can independently and get it to you as soon as we can.

WHITFIELD: All right. And you know, that's the complicating thing about this is trying to get, you know, the facts kind of straight from both sides, because it's difficult to gather communications from that area, especially while these kinds of fighting and exchanges are taking place.

Meantime, Randi, I understand there's also some activity taking place in Gaza. What kind of information are you getting out of that?

KAYE: There is some information coming to us from Gaza that apparently, we've been told through the Associated Press, that militant groups in Gaza have agreed to stop firing missiles at Israel.

This would be the Hamas militant group, not Hezbollah. A very different group.

They've agreed stop firing the missiles at Israel, according to a senior Palestinian official.

This would be a unilateral cease-fire aimed at ending the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, which you may recall began June 28th, just three days after the Hamas raided an Israeli army post. But we want to tell you that CNN's Jerusalem Bureau is getting information that Hamas and the Palestinian authorities there are denying that any agreement for a -- to stop firing rockets at Israel, has been reached -- Fred?

WHITFIELD: All right, Randi, thanks so much for that update.

Eleven days of Israel's assault on Lebanon, and no end in sight. How much longer will the offensive last? Government spokeswoman Meri Isien (ph) will join me when "CNN SATURDAY" continues after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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