Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
13 Days of Warfare; Condoleezza Rice's Delicate Diplomatic Mission; The Path to Peace?
Aired July 24, 2006 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Wolf Blitzer in Jerusalem.
And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories.
Happening now, Condoleezza Rice desperately dots a map of the Middle East. Might her course be a path toward peace?
It's midnight here in Jerusalem, where the secretary of state takes on some high-level crisis management. She'll meet with Israeli officials after first stopping in Lebanon.
And as Israel trying to bomb Hezbollah into submission, Lebanese civilians need critical aid. Now the Bush administration says that money, the medicine, the material all on the way.
Meanwhile, a 13th day of death and disaster, Israel and Hezbollah continuing clashes. And on both sides, the toll grows.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Thirteen days, no end to the fighting and the deepening crisis here in the Middle East. Thousands of Lebanese are in need. Now the Bush administration is promising $30 million to the United Nations' appeal for humanitarian aid for Lebanon. Medical kits, blankets, other supplies due to start arriving tomorrow.
The secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is here in Jerusalem. Tonight she'll meet with the prime minister, Ehud Olmert. Tomorrow expected to meet with the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, as well. Earlier, Condoleezza Rice made an unannounced stop in Beirut, where she met with top Lebanese officials, including the prime minister, Fouad Siniora.
Meanwhile, Israel and Hezbollah locked horns once again today. Forces battled near what the Israeli military is calling Hezbollah's terror capital.
It happened in Bint Jubail. Two Israeli soldiers were killed. Israel now reports 39 Israelis dead, military and civilian.
Hezbollah fired dozens more rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel today. Lebanese security forces say Israeli strikes have killed at least 375 people and wounded at least 727 in Lebanon.
CNN reporters are uniquely positioned throughout this region.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Beirut.
Fionnuala Sweeney is in Haifa in northern Israel.
But let's begin with our chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour. She's on the border with Lebanon, where the rockets have continued to rain down once again today.
Christiane, update or viewers on the latest.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, less rockets than yesterday and the day before, and more ground forces going in and more ground activity by Israeli forces inside Lebanon across the border, we saw, as the infantry troops today in one area put on their war paint and got ready to go inside to support the battalions of Israeli ground forces who are already there.
We're being told by the commanding general in that area that their strategic target now is the town of Bint Jubail, which the Israelis call the Hezbollah capital in southern Lebanon. We're also told that they are taking casualties, that it is fierce fighting, that in some places it's face-to-face fighting and that Hezbollah is putting up strong resistance. We've reported two Israeli soldiers dead in this battle and several wounded in just the first 24 hours of the battle for Bint Jubail, but we're told there are far more Hezbollah casualties on the other side.
In addition, the commanding general told us, looking over onto the border with southern Lebanon, that they are succeeding, he said, in pushing back Hezbollah forces, along with their rocket-launching capability. Succeeding in pushing them back north, which he says makes their firing ability less accurate, less able to fire as deep into Israel as before, and, therefore, they say they're making good progress, all the while saying that they will not be able to stop every last Katyusha until this operation is over -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Christiane, you've been speaking with a lot of Israeli military commanders on the front lines on the border with Lebanon. Is there a sense that they're getting that the clock is ticking for Israel, with the diplomats trying to come up with some sort of cease- fire, there's a limited window Israel has right now to try to deal with this Hezbollah threat in the south?
AMANPOUR: Well, we reported the breaking news really over the weekend that it is considered that they have about a week or two left to do this with a cease-fire potentially in place within a couple weeks to three weeks. And the commanders on the ground saying consistently that they need at least another week to complete, as they say, their operations, but they say that they're prepared to go longer, and they've been preparing for this for a long time, should it become necessary. The objective, we're told, is to basically, if it is to -- which it is -- to weaken and degrade Hezbollah capability in all of Lebanon, what they have to do is push back and take control and dislodge Hezbollah from the border. So that is basically their main -- their main effort right now with the ground forces.
BLITZER: Christiane Amanpour in northern Israel, right on the border with Lebanon.
Christiane, thank you very much.
Let's get some more now on the diplomatic mission of the secretary of state. CNN's John King is in Jerusalem with us. He's covering the secretary of state's delicate diplomatic mission.
This is a tough assignment for Dr. Rice.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very tough assignment for the secretary. What we're seeing tonight is the first evidence of new face-to-face diplomacy from the Bush administration.
Standing with Israel's foreign minister tonight, Secretary Rice, though, said she needs a solution based on enduring principles, not temporary solutions. Translation, the diplomacy is intensifying, but don't expect immediate breakthroughs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING (voice over): A high-profile mission with a dramatic beginning. The secretary of state brushing aside security concerns to visit Beirut and offer support to Lebanon's fragile government.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: President Bush wanted this to be my first stop here in Lebanon to express our desire to urgently find conditions in which we can end the violence and make life better for the Lebanese people.
KING: But while Secretary Rice promised $30 million in U.S. humanitarian aid, she did not give Lebanon's prime minister what he wanted most, a White House commitment to push Israel for an immediate cease-fire.
Despite mounting international pressure, the White House says conditions are not ripe for a cease-fire, and U.S. officials expect military operations to continue for another week, maybe more.
NICHOLAS BURNS, UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE: If you stop the fighting right now, you would hand Hezbollah a major victory, because they would be positioned just north of Israel. They would be able to fire those rockets at any time.
KING: The Beirut stop included dinner with leaders of last year's so-called Cedar Revolution, pro-democracy forces who warned their government could collapse if pushed to confront Hezbollah.
Secretary Rice also met with a key Shiite political figure, parliament speaker Nabih Berri, explaining the U.S. position to a Lebanese leader with close ties to Hezbollah. Suffice it to say it didn't go well. A television station owned by the speaker said no progress was made because of what it called unacceptable U.S. demands.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In summary, we conclude that the conflict is not about the two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, but rather a preplanned American-Israeli scheme to attack Lebanon, its unity and sovereignty.
KING: Anti-American demonstrations in Beirut were another reminder of the administration's credibility challenge in the Arab world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Morning meetings here in Jerusalem with the Israeli prime minister, the Israeli defense minister, then on to Ramallah to see the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas.
But, Wolf, perhaps the most difficult diplomacy ahead at the next stop in Rome, where Secretary Rice hopes to broker, with the help of the United Nations and European officials, some sort of deal for a cease-fire, some sort of an agreement on an international force to go into southern Lebanon. But there are still so many questions about how to work all that out that even if the diplomacy goes well in Rome, most people think a week, maybe two weeks, some even longer before you can get that force in place.
BLITZER: And the moderate Arab States, the friends of the United States, Egypt, especially Jordan, the Saudis, they were in Washington today, might be in Rome on Wednesday, they're participating, but conspicuously missing are the two players who have the most influence on Hezbollah, namely Iran and Syria.
Forget about Iran for the time being, but what about Syria, this effort apparently that's under way to wean the Syrians away from Iran and get the Syrians to be more cooperative?
KING: Well, traditionally, U.S. officials would say Syria has been aligned with the Arab nations. Iran has been viewed suspiciously because it is a Persian nation.
So what they're hoping is, with the help of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and perhaps others in Europe, you can convince Syria, you're so isolated in the world, don't do this. Break with Iran, break with Hezbollah, try to come back, at least into the Arab fold, and down the road you'll have better relations with the United States.
But, can that happen? There are no relations at all. Secretary Rice says the channels of communication are open, but they're not talking at a high level between Washington and Damascus right now. They're asking for help from the Arabs. Most are skeptical you'll see any progress, at least in the short term.
BLITZER: John King, covering the secretary's visit here.
Thanks very much, John, for that.
Our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is on duty for us in Beirut. It's been a day of diplomacy and more desperation in the Lebanese capital.
Nic, update our viewers on what happened today.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it was only 10 hours ago that Condoleezza Rice swept up the road here and in a very secure convoy went in to meet with the prime minister, had her meetings there. As John King has outlined, met with the speaker of the parliament. It didn't go well. He's aligned with Hezbollah.
Met with members of the Cedar Revolution, the sort of anti-Syria grouping here. Among them, Christians, Sunni Muslims, some of the Druze group here.
I was talking with Christians in some of the Christian neighborhoods of Beirut today. They pointed out the importance that they do want to see Hezbollah disarm. They don't think that the country can have its own sovereignty as long as Hezbollah has weapons.
They don't mind too much what's happening right now. They do object to the suffering of the people of this country. But what they -- what they reinforce is, and the picture that I'm getting emerging from them, is that the -- that Hezbollah, as a political force, does need to survive. As a military force, OK, get rid of it, but as a political force, it needs to survive.
And I talked to one of the politicians, Christian politicians coming out of that meeting late this afternoon with Secretary Rice, and he told me that from everything he had heard, he does expect the fighting to continue for some time. Most people I'm talking to here say they think another two weeks, another three weeks is all that can be left in the fighting.
The reality is, some of these politicians are telling me who have been in the meetings today, they see this now playing out to where either Hezbollah or Israel thinks that they've got a military victory. And for Hezbollah to come out with a victory, they only need to survive with their leadership and some military intact for them to emerge among their population, at least of having done a good job here -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Nic Robertson in Beirut for us.
Nic, thank you.
Let's go to New York once again. Jack Cafferty with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.
Some senators don't think Condoleezza Rice is enough. Harry Reid and Joe Biden sent President Bush a letter last Friday calling for a special envoy to be named to the Middle East. They say this person could then work behind the scenes with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and our European allies to stabilize Lebanon and implement U.N. Resolution 1559, which calls for the complete disarming of Hezbollah.
The letter also called for the establishment of an interim international stabilization force for southern Lebanon, ideally led and manned by European nations, not the United States. Biden and Reid accused President Bush of not having a comprehensive diplomatic strategy to deal with the current crisis in the Middle East. They say a brief visit by Secretary Rice is inadequate and that a "sustained involvement" is what is needed.
Here's what Reid said today on the floor of the Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: Hopefully her surprise visit to Lebanon is not a continuation of the Bush photo-op foreign policy. "Mission Accomplished," "Bring 'em on," I hope it's not a photo-op again, but a serious effort to follow up calls for American leadership.
The Bush administration has reported on the face of major weekly magazines last week. Cowboy diplomacy cannot be replaced by couch potato diplomacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAFFERTY: So here's the question this hour. Who would make a good special envoy to the Middle East?
E-mail your thoughts to caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Are you interested in the job, Jack?
CAFFERTY: Absolutely not. I like being in THE SITUATION ROOM.
BLITZER: Jack Cafferty not going to be the special envoy to the Middle East.
Thanks, Jack, very much.
Up ahead, the next challenge once the opened warfare in the Middle East dies down. Would a multinational force be effective? Or would it be dragged into the fight?
And the U.S. military is set to begin a humanitarian mission in Lebanon, but with limits. We'll have a report on what the troops will and will not do.
And a key political figure in Lebanon on the current crisis and whether U.S. diplomacy is making any difference.
The former Lebanese ambassador to the United States, Nassib Lahoud, he met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beirut earlier today. We'll get his take on what's going on.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting tonight from Jerusalem, where the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, has been holding talks with top Israeli officials. She's also expected to meet with Palestinian leaders tomorrow. She's trying to defuse the Middle East crisis.
Earlier in the day, she made an unannounced stop in Beirut to meet personally with Lebanon's prime minister.
The U.S., meanwhile, is pledging $30 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon. Relief supplies could start being delivered as early as tomorrow.
Meanwhile, clashes are continuing. Israel says Hezbollah has fired 1,000 rockets at towns and villages in northern Israel over the past 13 days. Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants are also battling on the ground in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.
Lebanese security forces say at least 375 people in Lebanon have been killed, more than 700 have been wounded. Israel says 39 Israelis have been killed and more than 300 have been injured.
Let's get the latest on the situation in the northern part of Israel. For that, we'll turn to CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney. She's in Haifa.
How did it go today, Fionnuala?
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, actually, Wolf, it was a quieter day by relative standards and comparisons with previous days. You'll recall yesterday two people were killed and dozens injured in several barrages of attacks from Hezbollah just 20 kilometers up the road.
Today, the air raid sirens sounding several times, but only one rocket following near -- falling near Haifa. However, across northern Israel dozens of rockets were fired.
There are people who are living in bomb shelters 24/7. It is a scene reprinted all over the map of northern Israel, as Israel, one third of its country unable to function effectively.
It can only be a matter of time, Wolf, before there is an economic cost to be taken here, as well as the mounting civilian casualties. One third of Israel's heavy and petrochemical industry are based in this one third of Lebanon.
So people here are extremely tense as there seems to be no letup in the fighting and no imminent prospect of a cease-fire.
BLITZER: Fionnuala Sweeney reporting for us from Haifa.
Fionnuala, thanks very much.
Official are scrambling to try to end the fighting in the short and the long term, but how to keep the peace then?
Let's go to CNN's Brian Todd. He's joining us from Washington -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, that's a question that no one seems to have a very strong answer to at the moment. And there are other questions involving a stabilization force, questions that go beyond how.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice over): Once this fight subsides, who will stand between Israel and Hezbollah? With the U.N. or NATO being discussed as possible stabilization forces, military experts have a warning. Whoever goes in will have to go beyond peacekeeping and be prepared to actually fight.
GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You have to have forces that are tough enough and strong enough that go the length of time here and enforce the peace.
TODD: U.N. forces have been ineffective in that role in the recent past. NATO has a stronger track record, and NATO member Turkey, a Muslim nation with a strong military, could be a key participant. But asking mostly Sunni Muslims from Turkey to step between the Shiite Hezbollah and Israel, experts say, could get dicey. And they point out NATO is already stretched thin, deployed in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq and Darfur. They'd be stretched thin in Lebanon, too.
COL. PATRICK LANG (RET.), MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: A lot of people are talking about the Litani River as the area you have to clear of rocket launchers, but if you notice, the Israeli towns and the army posts in Metullah and Kiryat Shmona, and all these little farming villages down here are within range of this larger range fan by the Katyusha rockets. So this area in here has to be cleared of these rocket launchers as well.
TODD: Colonel Patrick Lang, once deployed to this region, says that means the stabilization force will have to occupy about the same size area that Israel held for 18 years. Since then, Hezbollah has dug in.
LANG: With tunnels, fortified villages, fortified farmhouses, firing positions, caches of rockets, and all kinds of other things that are going to have to be cleared one thing at a time if you're going to get the launchers back away from the Israeli border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: That means a long grind for the stabilization force, a grind that, as we mentioned, will likely involve fighting. That's why just about every analyst we spoke to, from retired U.S. officers, to a former U.N. peacekeeping official, all asked the same question: Which countries will step forward to offer their soldiers for this mission?
Wolf, U.S. officials have already said they don't anticipate a major American presence.
BLITZER: Brian, thanks very much.
Brian Todd reporting from Washington.
And coming up, thousands of Lebanese are fleeing to Syria. Can Syria play a role in trying to end this crisis? We're going to go live to Damascus.
Also coming up, much more on Lebanon's options. My interview with a Lebanese leader who met earlier today with the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, in Beirut. What did she say?
All that coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Tens of thousands of Lebanese have fled to Syria. The former power broker in Lebanon, and a patron of Hezbollah, Syria may be a crucial player right now in any settlement.
CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Damascus. He's joining us now live.
Aneesh, what are they saying in the Syrian capital about trying to resolve this crisis?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the Syrians know they are a key player in the region and they are a key part to any sustainable solution. We asked them today, a minister, about comments made by the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, en route to the region. She said that the U.S.' core relationship with Syria was become exaggerated, that there are back channels of communication that can take place, given that there is no U.N. ambassador here. But the Syrian officials we spoke to today essentially dismissed those comments and said that if Secretary Rice and the U.S. wants to talk to Syria, it should do so directly.
They also said that the secretary is traveling to all the wrong places, that she should be here in Damascus. She as well should be talking to the Iranians.
Now, given their history with Hezbollah, the Syrians are right now waiting on the sidelines, keen not to get involved in a military conflict. But they are keen as well to be part of any deal that could be brokered. They want to be at the table. But again, it's a division between the U.S. and Syria.
The U.S. is not calling for a cease-fire yet, the Syrians are calling for an immediate cease-fire and a prisoner swap. So how that gets resolved is a key question, and how, if at all, Syria is brought to the table in the days ahead could be a key factor in all of this -- Wolf.
BLITZER: How anxious are the Syrians, based on what you've heard over these most recent days, to restart a high-level dialogue with the United States? And if that were to happen, could Syria, as some U.S. officials have suggested, be weaned away from this alliance that they have with Iran?
RAMAN: Well, that is in essence sort of the carrot that they're swinging out there for the U.S. to come talk to them. They want the U.S. to come to Syria. The U.S. is saying the Syrians have to act first before they'll come to talk to the Syrians here in Damascus.
They don't want to be dragged into the military side, but they don't want to be left out diplomatically. So they are keen to talk.
As we heard when I was in Tehran from the Iranians in the nuclear dispute and here again, they are keen to be part of this process, but they want the U.S. to come to them. They don't want to make the first step -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Aneesh Raman, his most recent assignments have been Baghdad, Tehran, and now Damascus. Not an easy assignment, by any means.
Aneesh, thanks very much for doing outstanding reporting for CNN.
Lebanon's prime minister told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today that the Israeli airstrikes have driven Lebanon back 50 years. He's urging an immediate cease-fire.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now from Beirut is Nassib Lahoud. He's one of the top leaders of the Cedar Revolution that was so instrumental in removing the Syrian military from Lebanon last year.
Mr. Lahoud, thanks very much for joining us.
I know you were among those leaders of the Cedar Revolution that met with the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice. What was her basic message to you today? What did you hear from her?
NASSIB LAHOUD, FMR. LEBANESE AMB. TO U.S.: Well, we heard from her that the United States, along with other members of the international community, would like to work for a fast and durable cease-fire. This is basically what we are aiming for.
BLITZER: Did she give you any specific details how that would be implemented, the conditions the United States sees as essential to achieve this cease-fire.
LAHOUD: I think that the basic idea is to end the hostilities in southern Lebanon and open the way to the deployment of an international stabilizing force that would restore peace in southern Lebanon, stop all hostilities on Hezbollah's side and on the Israeli side, and pave the way for the return of the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have been forced to flee southern Lebanon in the past few days.
BLITZER: Did she suggest, though, that as a first step, Hezbollah would have to return to Israel those two captured soldiers?
LAHOUD: The modalities of the cease-fire are going to be negotiated by the Siniora government, in which we have full confidence. We hope that all parties in Lebanon will delegate to the prime minister the authority to negotiate the cease-fire with the international community.
BLITZER: Let me read to you, Mr. Lahoud, what an Israeli government spokesperson said earlier today, quote "Israel demands that the Lebanese government, once and for call, exert sovereignty over their territory. Governments are responsible for what happens within their borders and Israel now sees that Lebanon is not taking responsibility for what happens there." Is it realistic that the Lebanese government can exert its sovereignty in the south and effectively dismantle the Hezbollah militia?
NASSIB LAHOUD, FORMER LEBANESE AMB. TO U.S.: This is definitely what we aim for. We aim that by the end of this process, starting with the cease-fire, the Lebanese government will be able to be the sole custodian of the use of force in Lebanon and that no other party in Lebanon will hold any weaponry. We think that the only way to stop these dramatic events from recurring is for the Lebanese government to gain control over every inch of the territory. We think we can do that.
BLITZER: As you know, the Secretary of State left Beirut, is now here where I am, in Jerusalem. What do you hope her basic message will be to the government of Israel?
LAHOUD: We hope that the basic message will be the enforcement of an immediate and durable cease-fire. Immediate because we would like to end the suffering of the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese, and durable because we would never like these hostilities to happen again.
BLITZER: As you know, as recently as the last few days, she rejected an immediate cease-fire, saying it would be worse for the situation if the status quo (INAUDIBLE) were simply restored. Is there any indication that that status has changed?
LAHOUD: Well we do hope so. We hope that all parties will accept an immediate cease-fire, but a durable cease-fire, a durable cease-fire would have to mean that the comprehensive solution would have to be found that would ensure that this conflict would never erupt again.
BLITZER: She announced a major humanitarian assistance program to Lebanon from the United States government that would start, she said, as soon as tomorrow. What you heard her say about U.S. aid to Lebanon and its reconstruction and the refugees, the people so dramatically affected over these past 13 days, is that good enough based on what you heard? LAHOUD: What we would like to expect immediately is the securing of a corridor for humanitarian aid that would secure the end of the effective blockade that Lebanese are subjected to. The second stage would have to be the end of all hostilities, the return of war refugees and a massive reconstruction program that would take care of the enormous damage that has been caused to life and to infrastructure. We heard that the international community is well disposed toward these aims.
BLITZER: We're almost out of time, but one final question, Mr. Lahoud. After your meeting with Condoleezza Rice today in Beirut, are you more or less optimistic about Lebanon's future?
LAHOUD: I am confident about Lebanon's future. I do feel that this is the last major crisis that Lebanon will be subjected to, and we're firmly committed here in Lebanon, both in government and in the majority, to construct a consensus that will be durable, that will end the suffering of the Lebanese, and that will secure a Lebanon that will not be a threat to any of its neighbors.
BLITZER: And that the people in the northern part of Israel won't have to worry about rockets and missiles coming in? Is that part of your vision as well?
LAHOUD: Yes, of course. I think the comprehensive solution would like to -- would have to end all hostilities, both on Lebanon's side and on the Israeli side. Yes, no more rockets towards Israel, no more over-flights and aggression by Israel on Lebanese territory.
BLITZER: Mr. Lahoud, thanks very much for joining us. Good luck to everyone in Lebanon.
LAHOUD: Thank you, Wolf. Thank you very much.
BLITZER: The Internet is playing an unprecedented role on how we understand this Middle East crisis, while Hezbollah militants and Israelis battle it out on the ground, Muslims right now are fighting among themselves on-line over how they view Hezbollah's action. For the latest let's turn once again to our Internet report Jacki Schechner. Jacki?
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, since Hezbollah is a Shiite-based organization and the rest of the Middle East is predominately Sunni-Arab, we wanted to take a look at how the Sunnis were reacting to Hezbollah's actions online. We take a look at this message board called (INAUDIBLE) which means "the yarn." And if you take a closer look at a message like this, now this is not a Sunni- based or a Shiite-based message board, this actually unites the two. It is this message right here, if we zoom in closer for you to at least translate it. It says, "Arabs and Muslims whether Sunnis or Shiites, are the heroes in Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine." So you can see a unification there. Another site that we took a look at Al Maraj Aroun, is predominately a Sunni site, this is where Al-Qaeda posts many of its messages. There is no mention here of the Israeli Hezbollah conflict, which actually speaks volumes, because as much as Israel is considered the enemy, there is no endorsement of Hezbollah on this Sunni site. Hezbollah again being Shiite.
The third site we took a look at was one called Barak, this again another Sunni site, Al Qaeda often posts messages here too. Again a Sunni organization. They do discuss the conflict in the Middle East right now, and it's this message right here where they offer their support of Hamas and their condemnation of Hezbollah. You can see the translation we put up, "The Lions of Sunnis and the Donkeys of Shiites." We're able to give you these translations and all of this information courtesy of our CNN bureau in Dubai. They're doing a wonderful job of covering these stories in the Middle East as well. You can go to cnn.com/situationreport, we've also posted our own links. Wolf?
BLITZER: We want to thank our bureau chief in Dubai, Caroline Faraj for that assistance. Jacki thanks very much. Coming up we're going to go live to northern Israel, John Roberts is on the scene for us. Israeli forces once again pounding Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. And we'll take a closer look at other developments in the Middle East, and how they're affecting the price of oil. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Jerusalem, where the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived from Beirut. Much more of our complete coverage of the crisis in the Middle East coming up. But first Zain Verjee once again joining us in THE SITUATION ROOM in Washington with a closer look at some other important stories making news right now. Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, oil prices rise again after falling to $72 a barrel last week. Prices are back up. A barrel of light sweet crude closed at $75 a barrel this afternoon. Now analysts say the price increase is basically because of temporary power outages for refineries in Texas and in Louisiana. They say oil executives are also watching the outcome of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to the Middle East.
California firefighters are battling blazes and a heat wave as they face a wildfire in San Diego County. The blaze in Cleveland National Forest now reaches across 6600 acres but has turned away from homes evacuated by hundreds of residents. Officials say it could be the country's worst year for wild fires. This decade fires have destroyed some 4.9 million acres across the U.S. since the beginning of the year.
The Coast Guard cutters racing to help a stricken vessel off the coast of Alaska, "The Cougar Ace" is carrying 22 crew members and nearly 5,000 cars. The cargo ship is (INAUDIBLE) sharply, taking on water and leaking fuel. It's going to be sometime tomorrow before the cutter arrives. In the meantime, a helicopter has dropped crew members a life raft.
A car bomb explodes in Afghanistan and two coalition soldiers are injured. Military authorities have offered no word on the seriousness of their wounds. The bombing occurred in Kandahar province, it comes just two days after a pair of attacks in Kandahar killed two Canadian soldiers and six civilians. Wolf?
BLITZER: Zain, thanks very much.
And still to come, Hezbollah rockets continuing to fall in northern Israel, and Israel continuing to fire right back. John Roberts is our man along the border with Lebanon. We're going to go to him live, that's coming up.
And in our 7:00 p.m. eastern hour, how long should Israel take to accomplish its mission against Hezbollah? I'll speak with the former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm reporting from Jerusalem tonight. Let's head up north to the border with Lebanon. CNN's John Roberts is standing by with more from there. John, another pretty violent day?
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SR. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, it continues even now. It's coming up to 1:30 here -- or coming up on 1:00 I should say here in Israel. And we continue to hear the artillery of firing across the border into Lebanon. You hear the double crack of the guns firing and then several seconds later you hear the dull thud of the artillery shell hitting on the other side. There goes one right now. They're keeping it up 24 hours a day here, trying to pound those Hezbollah positions, trying to keep Hezbollah's head down while the Israeli defense forces on the ground on the other side try to move them out of their positions.
We also saw covert gunships firing rockets into the area, trying to knock out those Hezbollah Katyusha rocket sites before they can get a shot off here at Israel. But they haven't done a very good job of that today. More on that in just a second. But all along the border, the Israelis really are trying to keep the heat on Hezbollah because there have been some cross-border incursions back into Israel as the Israeli defense forces push forward. In the last couple of days they took Maroun Al Ras, which was that hilltop town overlooking Avivim, right up there against the border. They wanted to take away that high position that Hezbollah had to be able to rain down fire on the Israeli towns.
Now they're pushed into Bint Jubail, which is a town about three miles north of the border, that's taken to be a Hezbollah stronghold. And the feeling is, is that if they can get that stronghold wrapped up under Israeli control, they'll take away a lot of Hezbollah's command and control operations there in the southern part of the country. But they're still having problems hanging on to Maroun Al Ras. They haven't let any journalists in there, which is a pretty clear indication that there still is a lot of danger in there, there are pockets of resistance that they haven't quite cleared out. And those Katyusha rockets continue to be fired across the border. The count from an Israeli spokesman, 83 Katyushas today, none hit the city of Haifa. A couple did fall harmlessly to the north of the city. One of the towns that was hardest-hit as always was Nahariya, a house took a direct hit today. There were 24 people wounded, one of them seriously, however there were no fatalities. There were a couple fatalities over the weekend.
And it's interesting to note as well Wolf that the number of rockets that have been fired into northern Israel has decreased markedly from last week. They were regularly getting a couple of hundred rockets a day. On Saturday there was 160 that were fired. Then on Sunday that number decreased to 90 and now down to 83. We don't know if just that Hezbollah is holding on to its fire for a larger-scale assault on northern Israel, or whether or not that means Wolf that these IDF raids into southern Lebanon are having some kind of an effect.
BLITZER: John Roberts, thanks very much. John's on the border with Lebanon. Let's go to New York, Lou Dobbs getting ready for his program that begins right at the top of the hour, he's standing by with a preview. Lou?
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you very much. Coming up at the top of the hour here on CNN, we'll be reporting on the intensifying Israeli air and ground assault against the Hezbollah forces in Lebanon. But Hezbollah is still firing as many as 100 rockets at Israel each and every day. We'll have complete coverage and assess the success of the Israeli offensive. Also tonight, state and local law enforcement agencies in this country have the power to help enforce our immigration laws, but elected officials across the country are refusing to help the federal government. And where they are helping, the federal government is refusing their help. We'll have that special report here tonight.
And the American Bar Association says President Bush is violating the Constitution of the United States by challenging hundreds of new laws. We'll be examining what is a rising controversy over the president's use of so-called filing statements, are they constitutional? Is this president violating our constitution? We hope you'll be with us for that important story at the top of the hour and a great deal more as well. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Lou, we'll see you then. Up ahead here in THE SITUATION ROOM, now that U.S. evacuees are out of Lebanon, the president has ordered the U.S. military to embark on a new mission in Lebanon. Will this take them right into the war zone? We'll explain what's going on. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Jerusalem. The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is here, she met with the Israeli foreign minister tonight. Tomorrow she meets with the prime minister. Much more on her shuttle of diplomacy, as it's being called, that's coming up.
Meanwhile, I want to update you on the condition of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. His condition has taken a turn for the worse in recent days, according to his doctors. The 78-year- old Sharon has been in a coma since suffering a massive stroke back in early January, doctors treating him at a Tel Aviv hospital, say his kidneys are deteriorating, and they detected changes in his brain tissue. They're doing more tests to try to figure out what's causing this deterioration. We're staying on top of this story as well. More now on the humanitarian aid mission flowing into the region. We have two reports. CNN's Chris Burns is in Cyprus, but let's begin with our senior pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre. Jamie?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf you remember those reports there might be 5,000 or 8,000 Americans that wanted to get out of Lebanon? It turns out it was more in excess of 12,000, but now that most of them are out, not all, but most, U.S. military is now being asked to focus its attention on getting humanitarian aid in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice-over): The pentagon says the armada of U.S. warships off the Lebanese coast is no longer needed to assist in the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Lebanon, now that more than 12,000 Americans have been ferried out in the past ten days. Further evacuations will be by charter ship, such as the luxury liner "Orient Queen", which took another 1200 Americans out Monday. Now the U.S. military will shift from taking Americans out, to bringing humanitarian aid in, beginning with a shipment of two kits of critically needed medical supplies that should leave Cyprus by boat Tuesday.
TOM CASEY, ACTING STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN: Each of those kits contains medicines, intravenous fluid, some reusable medical equipment, and supplies for approximately 10,000 people for three months. And they were specifically designed to meet emergency medical needs in crisis situations.
MCINTYRE: While some humanitarian aid will be flown by helicopter into the U.S. embassy compound, which has not been evacuated and is still up and running, most will be put on fast ships such as the U.S. navy's high speed catamaran "Swift" or similar charter ships for the short hop from Cyprus to Lebanon. U.S. officials say the supplies will then be handed over to non- governmental aid organizations in Beirut, and that U.S. troops will not be distributing aids in dangerous parts of the war zone.
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: You have to find out ways in which you safely can transport it. We have been working on developing what they refer to as humanitarian corridors.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (on-camera): All those warships and their special operations equipped marines won't be going anywhere. They'll be staying within striking distance in case Americans need to be rescued. Wolf?
BLITZER: Jamie McIntyre at the pentagon, thanks very much.
Let's go to Cyprus, CNN'S Chris Burns is standing by, a new phase beginning in Cyprus for humanitarian aid, a staging ground, if you will, in that tiny Mediterranean island. Chris, update our viewers on what's going on.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right Wolf, we have three ships that have brought in passengers here over the last few hours. In back of me is a Danish ship that just arrived with hundreds of passengers, and in back of it is a French ship that has taken on humanitarian supplies after it dropped off its evacuees. It's taken on some 80 tons of supplies that are going to be going to Lebanon. The U.N. is also getting busy for that. They've already been loading supplies for some of their peacekeeping troops that are also cut off by the fighting in south Lebanon.
And now a major, major operation is being announced by the U.N. that as of today they'll be starting these convoys of trucks going down from Beirut down to Tyre, the port of Tyre to those people cut off Wednesday and Friday. Some ten trucks, ten tons in each truck, so a hundred tons with each shipment and that is going to continue. They have also announced more aid for some 800,000 people who were affected by this conflict, 500,000 displaced inside Lebanon, 150,000 who have gone on to Syria, and 150,000 trapped in south Lebanon. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right Chris, thanks very much.
We're going to take a quick break. When we come back, Jack Cafferty and his question for this hour. Much more of our special coverage on the crisis in the Middle East, we're live in Jerusalem, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: And this just coming into CNN, a reminder that Israel is fighting what it's calling a two-front war, not only with Hezbollah in the north, but in Gaza as well with Hamas. The Reuters news agency reporting now that an Israeli air strike has just hit the home of what's being described as a Hamas militant in Gaza. There were no reports of casualties. Immediate reports, no specific word yet from the Israeli military, Reuters quoting residents in Gaza. We'll get more on this story as it becomes available. >
In the meantime, let's go to New York once again, Jack Cafferty standing by. Jack?
JACK CAFFERTY: Democratic Senators Harry Reid and Joe Biden sent President Bush a letter Friday, calling for a high level special envoy to be named to the Middle East. So that's our question, who would make a good special envoy to go over there and try and get this thing sorted out? Karen writes in Pennsylvania, "Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Bono, Elie Wiesel, Jimmy Carter and King Abdullah of Jordan. That way you'd have Christians, Jews, Arabs, some world leaders, someone to write about it, someone to sing about it and a few peacemakers."
Jan writes, "Colin Powell is the smartest man in the country. He quit this administration. Plead with him to go." Mike in Ohio, "We have no business sending an envoy to the Middle East. It's not our fight or our business. Our leaders need to work on the influx of illegals in our country, not the Middle East." Jay in Nashville, "The perfect Middle East envoy would be Ann Coulter. Ms. Coulter would blame the New Jersey widows for the problems between Arabs and Jews, take the heat off Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon, et al. Everyone would so quickly despise the long-legged lady buffoon, they would quickly forget their trivial differences!"
Jeff in Ohio, "The perfect dream team: Al Gore, Howard Dean, John Kerry and Harry Reid. Al could tell them how he won the election. Howard could scream at them. John could, well he'd change his mind, and Harry would bore them to death." Sounds like a letter written by a republican. Marie writes in Kansas, "Send my mother-in- law. Lock the leaders from all sides in a room with her for two days, they'll sign anything just to get out." And if you didn't see your e- mail here, we invite you to check us out online, go to cnn.com/caffertyfile where we post some more of these each and every hour. Wolf, back to you.
BLITZER: And a lot of our viewers love reading them as well. We're back in one hour. Among my guests in THE SITUATION ROOM, the former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Until then, thanks very much for joining us, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting tonight from Jerusalem. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now. Lou?
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
