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Israeli Military Claiming New Victories in Fight Against Hezbollah; Israel Firing Deeper Into Lebanon; Condoleezza Rice Discussing Middle East in Rome; Amin Gemayel Interview; Scenarios For International Stabilization Force for Southern Lebanon Being Discussed; President Bush Appears At Joint News Conference With Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; U.S. Military on Mission of Mercy in Lebanon

Aired July 25, 2006 - 16:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Susan.
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, rockets flying across the Israeli-Lebanese border and a pitch for a new Middle East is under attack. It's 11:00 p.m. here in Israel, where Condoleezza Rice laid out a U.S. peace plan, but is the shuttle diplomacy getting her anywhere?

Also, this hour, desperation in Lebanon. New bombings in Beirut and a new push to deliver aid. I'll ask Lebanon's former president about the situation in his country and whether its harboring of Hezbollah fighters is really worth it.

And President Bush and Iraq's prime minister stand together, but they're at odds over the warfare between Israel and Hezbollah. It's 4:00 p.m. back in Washington, where one crisis in the Middle East is converging with another.

I'm Wolf Blitzer in Jerusalem. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Here in Israel tonight, the military is claiming new victories in its two week fight against Hezbollah guerrillas. While powerful new explosions rocked Beirut's southern suburbs, Israel troops also were pressing their ground campaign closer to the border.

Israel now says it controls the key stronghold of Bint Jbeil. That's about three miles inside of Southern Lebanon. The Israeli military says it killed as many as 30 Hezbollah fighters in that area alone over the past 24 hours.

On the Israeli side of the border listen to this. Hezbollah rockets slammed into northern Israel. Three or four areas in the port city of Haifa were among the targets hit today. Israel now reports at least 41 people killed in Israel during this two-week conflict. Lebanon now puts its death toll at 392.

On the diplomatic front, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is now in Rome after talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, here in Jerusalem. Lebanese sources say Rice is proposing an ambitious plan for two international military forces to try to stabilize Southern Lebanon.

Our reporters are standing by across this region and beyond. Our chief national correspondent John King is with the secretary of state in Rome. Our senior national correspondent John Roberts is at an Israeli artillery position on the front line in northern Israel along the border with Lebanon.

But first, let's go to our Beirut bureau chief, Brent Sadler. He's standing by with all the latest dramatic developments which happened in Lebanon today -- Brent.

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Thanks, Wolf.

A series of heavy explosions shook the Lebanese capital earlier this day. Israeli Air Force jets striking the southern suburbs, a tremendous cloud of smoke rising from this Hezbollah stronghold. This is the kind of bombing we've seen over the past two weeks. It ended almost a 48 hour lull during the time that Condoleezza Rice was in the region.

Again, according to Lebanese intelligence sources, the central part of the southern suburbs under the control of the Hezbollah leadership under attack. Israel claiming to try to destroy Hezbollah's ability to command and control forces. Also, more strikes against the southern port city of Tyre. This is where we saw later in the day more detonations. Tyre, of course, being one of those launch sites for Hezbollah rockets being fired into Israel.

This as there was a claim by the Israelis that they have now taken the important southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil, said to be a key location for the stockpile of Katyusha rockets by Hezbollah. Bint Jbeil and the overlying high ground crucially important for the next phase, expectant phase, say Lebanese military analysts of Israeli forces pushing even deeper into Southern Lebanon -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brent, as we're speaking, the Associated Press is sending this dispatch out of Beirut, an interview with a senior Hezbollah official, saying the group did not -- repeat -- did not expect Israel to react so strongly to its capture two weeks ago, of those two Israel soldiers.

Mohammad Kamati (ph), the deputy chief of Hezbollah's political arm, told the A.P. quote, "The truth is" -- let me say this clearly -- "we didn't even expect this response that Israel would exploit this operation for this big war against us."

Give us some perspective. You've been our long-time man on the scene in Beirut. What does this mean?

SADLER: It means that Hezbollah is explaining primarily to the domestic Lebanese people, that they did not commit an historic miscalculation in seizing those soldiers and ambushing and killing the others during that operation. Certainly, Hezbollah in the past has been able to use captured Israel soldiers, or indeed, the remains of slain Israel soldiers in the battlefield as bargaining chips.

That has been the precedent for more than two decades. What we're seeing now is a rewriting of those rules of engagement by Israel in this immediate and very important escalation of the conflict in south Lebanon triggered July the 11 by the taking of those soldiers and that ambush -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, from Beirut back here to Jerusalem. Brent, thank you very much for that. We'll be checking back with you throughout the night.

Let's go to CNN's John Roberts. He's on the frontlines in northern Israel, not very far away from the Lebanese border. I just heard a few moments ago, John, some artillery shells going off very close to you. I guess you must be getting used to those sounds.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Wolf, it's a sound that you can never really get used to. And tonight, it looks like they're firing deeper into Lebanon now that the campaign for Bint Jbeil appears to have gone well for the Israel Defense Forces. The angle of those barrels is a little bit lower, so we're taking just a little bit more of the concussion from these huge, 155- millimeter Howitzers.

That is the big story of the day. I was talking with General Gal Hirsch, who is the commander of the Galilee Division of the Israeli Defense Forces. He said that just within the last few hours -- and this was late this afternoon Israeli time. It would have been probably about 7:00, so it would have been noon Eastern time.

He said that in just the last few hours, they had finally got Bint Jbeil under Israel control, believing that they had a major center of Hezbollah command and control now in Israel hands. It doesn't mean though that things still aren't dangerous out there, Wolf, because they certainly are.

Earlier today, I spent a little bit of time right up along the border where the troops were coming in and out of the fence that separates Israel and Lebanon, getting to meet some of the troops, getting to talk to some of them, though officially they can't talk on camera about the battle. They were coming back, covered in dust, bone tired, but almost to a person, ready to get back in the battle when their time was called.

Not sure where the IDF is going now beyond Bint Jbeil, but certainly if we are to heed the words of Amir Peretz, the defense minister, they're planning on holding territory in Lebanon until an international stabilization force can get in place, and that is going to take some time.

Also, as I mentioned just a moment ago, having control of a town doesn't mean that the area isn't still dangerous. As we were walking back to our satellite truck from talking to some of the crew, I turned my head to the left and saw maybe about 20 yards away I saw this ripple come down through the top of a tree and then this enormous puff of dirt, if you will, throwing some dirt out onto the road. And an Israel soldier was knocked back. That was a mortar round that came in about 20 yards away from where I was, right at his feet and thank God it didn't explode. It was a dud. So still danger all around.

And still danger in the form of those Katyusha rockets. More than 55 of those were fired across the border from Lebanon into northern Israel today, hitting Haifa, hitting Nahariya, hitting Karmiel and hitting Kiryat Shmona. We were in Kiryat Shmona on our way down to the border, near Avivim, when our photographer, our cameraman, Avi, managed to just be looking at some brush fires and saw three Katyusha rockets come right in.

So, Wolf, even though the Israel Defense Forces are proclaiming that they're making progress against Hezbollah, it still remains a very dangerous organization -- Wolf.

BLITZER: We heard those loud explosions at least three times, maybe four times during your just -- your brief report, John. When I said earlier you must be getting used to it, you said you never get used to it, but you didn't flinch when you heard that. You must be getting used to those powerful blasts.

ROBERTS: Wolf, when the one behind me lets go though, it's difficult not to flinch. As I said, that barrel angle is down low, they're firing deeper into Lebanon tonight. They're carrying full charges which is why you see that residual flame coming out of the end of the barrel after that flame is long gone. Wolf, it's going to be a long, and it's going to be a noisy night here.

BLITZER: Are they -- when the Israelis go into Lebanon, not far away from where you are, are they taking media, taking reporters with them?

ROBERTS: No. We have asked them many, many times if we can go in, if we can go into Maroun al-Ras, which is that hilltop village sitting just above Avivim, which was the scene of such intense border fighting three, four days ago. They haven't yet said that we can go in there.

The reason, they is say, for our personal safety. Even though they have control, they say there are still pockets of resistance. And the fact that that mortar came in and that it actually was followed just a few seconds later by about a 10 minute mortar barrage in a field of maybe 100 to 200 yards in front of us is an indication, Wolf, that there still is a lot of danger.

They say there were snipers that pop up every once in a while to try to get off a lucky shot. So they're not yet willing to take us in. The Israelis, they haven't really got into this embed idea in the same way that the American military has. They're not prepared to take journalists out in the field with them just yet.

BLITZER: John Roberts, be careful up there in the north. Thanks very much. We're going to be checking back with you throughout our two hours right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Once again, 7:00 p.m. Eastern for another hour of live programming from the Middle East.

Let's head over to Rome. That's where the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is spending the night after another day of hectic diplomacy here in Jerusalem and then in Ramallah on the West Bank.

Our chief national correspondent, John King, is covering her trip. John, how did it go for the secretary today?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the main goal, of course, of the talks here in Rome -- and there will be more than a dozen nations participating, as well as the United Nations participating -- the main goal is to end the devastating violence you just heard both Brent Sadler and John Roberts describing, from Beirut and from northern Israel.

U.S. officials say Secretary Rice comes here with a plan she is hoping to sell to the international community, specifically to the government of Lebanon and its Arab allies.

But there are many obstacles to getting that plan agreed to. Chief among them, the United States and Israel insist that what has to come first is that Hezbollah must agree to disarm as part of any cease-fire. The Lebanese and the Arab nations and many others are saying, no, strike a cease-fire deal first, get Israel to stop the shelling, and then negotiate with Hezbollah about perhaps disarming. But the United States and Israel say that is a non-starter, that any agreement for them must first include Hezbollah agreeing to disarm.

So Secretary Rice is here now in Rome, a very significant diplomatic challenge ahead for her. And because everyone understands the difficulty of that diplomacy, all were watching closely when she met with the prime minister of Israel in Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, endorsing the U.S.-led diplomatic efforts, says he wishes the violence would come to end. But he was very clear. He said Israel will not pause its military operations just because the diplomats are finally talking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Israel is determined to carry on the fight against Hezbollah. We reach out for them, we stop them and we will not hesitate the take to most severe measures against those who are aiming thousands of rockets and missiles against innocent civilians for one purpose: to kill them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: And Secretary Rice, in turn, once again resisted the mounting international pressure. So many nations around the world want the United States to insist that Israel stop the violence, agree to a cease-fire and then negotiate with Hezbollah, then try to work out all the difficult details of a peacekeeping force.

Secretary Rice making clear the Bush administration will not do that, that it will not pressure Israel, that Israel essentially has a green light from Washington, so long as Hezbollah is still in the terrorism business.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We cannot return to a status quo ante in which extremists at any time can decide to take innocent life hostage again by using their rockets or using their capabilities. And tat is why we have, and the president, President Bush, has talked about an enduring cease-fire, an enduring cessation of violence, which would indeed make the security situation better than it was before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: So perhaps the most urgent challenge for Secretary Rice here and her international allies, convince the Lebanese government that already says it is weak, says it does not have the strength to take on Hezbollah, that it must accept a plan that calls for it to call for the disarmament of Hezbollah, deploy the Lebanese army into the southern parts of the country to begin to take control.

And then, Wolf, would come this new international peacekeeping force Secretary Rice is trying to come together. The United States envisions about 10,000 troops at first. But to be clear, while there is broad international support for such a course, it's very difficult to get the commitments, especially because many nations are very hesitant to go into Lebanon without a commitment from Hezbollah to disarm.

So though the broad outlines of a U.S. proposal are in place, but Wolf, getting agreement, all sides, including the United States side, say will be quite difficult here in Rome. The summit begins in the morning -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And you'll be covering it for us all day tomorrow. Thanks very much, John King. He's going to be checking back with us again throughout our programming.

Let's check in with Jack Cafferty. He's in New York with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Wolf.

Well, in theory, it's a great idea. An international peacekeeping force. The trouble is, nobody is rushing forward to volunteer to put their troops in Southern Lebanon, where they could quickly become targets of Hezbollah guerrilla and would undoubtedly be viewed as being aligned with Israel.

The United States has ruled out using its soldiers. NATO says its overstretched. Britain feels its troops are overcommitted. Remember Iraq? Germany says it's willing, but only if Hezbollah agrees to it. I have no idea what that means.

One senior European official told the "New York Times," quote, "Everyone will volunteer to be in charge of the logistics on Cyprus." Unqoute. Meanwhile, Lebanese sources say that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wants two international military forces. One would consist of up to 10,000 Turkish and Egyptian troops under NATO or the United Nations. And we don't know who would make up the second force of up to 30,000 troops.

And, of course, once we get Lebanon figured out, it will no doubt be time to declare a war in Iran. So we better keep some peacekeeper sin reserve.

Here's the question: Which country should be part of an international peacekeeping force in Lebanon? E-mail your thoughts to CaffertyFile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile.

What a nightmare -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Jack, thanks very much. Jack Cafferty in New York. We'll check back with your e-mail. That's coming up this hour.

Also coming up, Beirut under attack. Lebanon clearly in crisis right now.

Coming up, my special interview with a man in a hot seat, the former president of Lebanon, Amin Gemayel. That's coming up. He'll be in Beirut.

Plus, an exclusive look at the first U.S. relief mission into battered Beirut. Our Barbara Starr was along for the ride.

And President Bush and the Iraqi prime minister addresses the bloodshed in Israel and Lebanon and the security nightmare in Iraq.

We're live in Jerusalem, and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: I'm Wolf Blitzer. We're reporting live tonight from Jerusalem. Here are the latest developments in the crisis in the Middle East.

A senior Hezbollah official just telling the Associated Press that the militant Islamic group did not expect Israel to react so strongly to the July 11th kidnapping of tow Israeli soldiers.

Meanwhile, the last scheduled ship to carry American evacuees out of Beirut will leave tomorrow. The State Department says it will still work to get other U.S. citizens out, as well.

Israel says its forces now control the southern Lebanese city of Bint Jbeil and the casualty toll continues to rise.

Lebanon now reports nearly 400 Lebanese have been killed; 1,393 have been injured. Israel says 41 Israelis have been killed, more than 360 Israelis have been killed. Let's go to Beirut now and get the perspective of the former president of Lebanon, Amin Gemayel. He's joining us live from Beirut. Mr. President, thanks very much for coming in.

Your quick reaction to the statement from this Hezbollah leader that they really didn't expect Israel to react as fiercely to the kidnapping of those two Israel soldiers as Israel has reacted. What do you make of this Hezbollah response?

AMIN GEMAYEL, FORMER LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER: Myself, I did expect such kind of Israeli reaction. I am accustomed to such kind of reactions, rather accustomed to such kind of reactions from Israel, very harsh reactions. In '82, in the 90s, in the '78, that's the way Israel reacts usually.

But in my opinion, Lebanon since civilian time is entitled in the complexities of several regional crises and issues. But in the meantime, I think there is a real opportunity for the U.S. and maybe also the U.N. to achieve a success story in Lebanon. There is an opportunity for this success story.

Don't forget that Washington spends billions of dollars to build a democracy in Iraq. And about 2,000 and more deaths in Iraq. Lebanon is already a democracy, pluralistic society in this region, the only democracy in this society in the Mideast, so we need just -- or in the Arab world. So we need just a push from Washington and there is an opportunity now to achieve real success. But -- yes, please.

BLITZER: Here's -- Mr. President, let me read to you what the vice premier of Israel, Shimon Peres, told Israel's parliament earlier today. He said this, in a message he wanted to make, a message to the people of Lebanon.

"You proved that you could throw the Syrians out of the country and you can get rid your country of the weapons of Hezbollah. This could be your great opportunity."

Question, is the Lebanese government, is the Lebanese military strong enough to disarm this militia called Hezbollah?

GEMAYEL: First of all, this disarmament should be through real dialogue and there is actually a dialogue within the Lebanese leadership to achieve this goal. But to ensure security in Lebanon on the borders and elsewhere, we need urgently the help of a multi- national forces with muscles, being able to ensure the real security in Lebanon. The security forces and the army by themselves couldn't achieve this goal alone.

BLITZER: Do you think this multi-national force, whatever it looks like, that goes into southern Lebanon, will be able to stop Hezbollah from launching rockets against Israel and interfering with any shipment of new weapons to Hezbollah from Iran through Syria?

GEMAYEL: That's why I am talking about the Lebanese national dialogue. It is essential that after this crisis, I think that everybody is convinced that it's time now for -- for the -- to keep the Lebanese peace and it's time now to enter a genuine solution for our crisis. I think everybody is more and more ready and convinced that it's an opportunity to find a political solution for our problem.

BLITZER: Mr. President, I was in Beirut in 1982, just before your brother, then the elected president of Lebanon, Bachir Gemayel was assassinated, was killed because he wanted to make peace between Lebanon and Israel. You remember those days very vividly, you went on to become the president of Lebanon. Do you believe Lebanon can live in peace with Israel?

GEMAYEL: What we decided upon in the agreement in 1989, was to return to the Armistice Agreement of 1949. And the Armistice Agreement of 1949 is very clear, we have to ensure security and calm on the Lebanese/Israel borders. So if we return to the Armistice Agreement in 1949, as stipulated in the agreement and if we deploy the Lebanese army with the help of the multi-national force on the borders and in the south, it will be a first step, awaiting for a global settlement of the crisis of the crisis -- the conflict between the Arabs and Israel.

BLITZER: The former president of Lebanon, Amin Gemayel, I know these are hectic days for you, for everyone in Lebanon. Thanks so much for spending a few moments with us here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

And this note to our viewers. We'll get a different perspective, the Israel perspective, the vice premier of Israel, Shimon Peres. That exclusive interview coming up in the next hour here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Much more coming up from the Middle East. What would it take to stop the warfare between Israel and Hezbollah? We'll game out a potential peacekeeping plan with our CNN military analyst and retired U.S. Air Force general Don Shepperd. And Condoleezza Rice putting her stamp on shuttle diplomacy. How do her efforts in the Middle East compare to past quests for peace? From Jerusalem, we're live, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice now is in Rome, where she'll continue her efforts to try to broker what she's calling an urgent and enduring peace in the Middle East. Our senior analyst Jeff Greenfield compares Rice's mission to past attempts at shuttle diplomacy -- Jeff.

JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SR. ANALYST: Wolf, Secretary of State Rice joins a long list of officials who have tried to broker wars and disputes in the past. But when it comes to shuttle diplomacy, it is hard to remember any previous mission that comes with so many obstacles and burdens.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREENFIELD (voice-over): Here is an example of shuttle diplomacy at its best. President Theodore Roosevelt brought leaders of Russia and Japan to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a century ago and negotiated an end to the Russo/Japanese War. He won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Here's an example of shuttle diplomacy at its worst. British Vice President Austen Chamberlain in 1938 in an agreement that delivered much of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You never have to go to war with one another again.

GREENFIELD: "Peace in our time," Chamberlain proclaimed. A year later, the world was at war.

HENRY KISSINGER, SECRETARY OF STATE: But the necessities that brought about this effort...

GREENFIELD: And this is the mission that gave birth to the phrase "shuttle diplomacy," Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who, in 1973, racked up countless frequent-flyer miles, as he moved along Italy's capitals after the Arab-Israeli war.

But, back then, the peace efforts took place in the context of a Cold War chessboard, when all-out conflict literally threatened the peace of the war, and when both sides had powerful supporters who could influence them.

Moreover, the U.S. and the Soviets were constantly talking over a host of issues. Today, the players are very different. Hezbollah is a stateless group. The U.S. and many other nations condemn them as terrorists.

One of its key sponsors, Iran, is part of what President Bush has called the "axis of evil." Iran is not on Rice's itinerary, nor Syria, through whose territory Iran ships weapons to Hezbollah.

Moreover, in past conflicts, Americans have talked with warring parties, even as American policy clearly was aiding one side. Richard Holbrooke shaped an end to the conflict in the Balkans even as the U.S. was putting military pressure on Serbia to stop the violence in the Balkans in the mid-'90s.

Finally, even the most singular success of shuttle diplomacy, President Carter's brokering of an Israel-Egyptian peace treaty in 1978, happened only after leaders of both countries had met, and had clearly signaled their intention to end 25 years of hostilities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GREENFIELD: By contrast, Rice is dealing with a conflict where the combatants are so divided, they might as well be on different planets, and where some critics say, any deal right now might even do more harm than good.

No wonder, she might be asking, is this trip really necessary? Wolf.

BLITZER: Jeff, thank you so much. And people in Haifa are clearly anxious for some sort of deal. They have been living in underground shelters over these past two weeks.

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is joining us now from the port city on the Mediterranean, once again a target of new rocket attacks today.

Update our viewers, Fionnuala, on what happened today.

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the air raid sirens, Wolf, started sounding at about quarter to 10:00. And, thereafter, there were a number of impacts felt.

And after one particular air raid siren warning, a number of rockets were seen falling into the city, and several explosions were heard. Eighteen civilians were killed. There was a lot of destruction. And one man suffered a heart attack and died after a rocket landed near his house -- these rockets just one of more than 70 which fell on northern Israel, injuring 66 people, and killing a 15- year-old in the Galilee region.

And, then, later on in the day, Wolf, we heard from the Israeli military that they had knocked out a rocket launch site in Tyre, in southern Lebanon, which they believed had been responsible for a lot of the rockets coming into this port city of Haifa.

And, so, for a time, Israelis here in Haifa were breathing easy. But, then, there was an air raid warning siren a couple of hours later -- no impact felt, but, again, a reminder that this situation remains extremely tense.

And, for the first time, Wolf, tonight, about two hours ago, we had the first air raid warning siren at night, something which is very unusual here, because, if Hezbollah try to launch rockets at Israel from southern Lebanon, it's usually picked up at night by the flare when it launches by the Israeli drones -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Fionnuala, we will be checking back with you. Thank you very much.

Plans, meanwhile, are circulating right now for a multinational force to try to keep the peace in the Middle East when and if a cease- fire is brokered.

Our Brian Todd is taking a closer look at that part of the story -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, talking about the scenarios for an international stabilization force for southern Lebanon, and specifically Condoleezza Rice's idea to send up to 10,000 Turkish and Egyptian troops as part of an initial force to lay the groundwork for a much larger force to come in later, I'm joined by our military analyst General Don Shepperd.

General, thanks for joining us.

First, where do they go in from? And, then, where do they deploy to, once they're there?

MAJOR GENERAL DONALD SHEPPERD (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Most likely, they will go in by sea. That's the way you move heavy equipment. You need a port to do that. There are three ports available, Haifa in Israel, Tyre in Lebanon, Beirut in Lebanon. Probably, Tyre would the logical choice, because it's close to the area that you're going to be patrolling.

TODD: OK. And, then, deploying inland, where do they go from there? What do they have to establish?

SHEPPERD: The first thing you do is, when you look at the area you're responsible for, you establish forward operating bases. From those forward operating bases, you establish outposts. From those outposts, you send out control -- patrols. And this is a very big area, and it's a big task.

TODD: Militarily, Turkish forces, Egyptian forces, are they up to the task of peace enforcement. Will they engage Hezbollah or any other any military entity there?

SHEPPERD: They're professional militaries. They're up to the task of peacekeeping. Whether or not they're up to the task of peacemaking, actually doing the shooting, is to be seen -- again, a difficult task.

TODD: All right, say I'm a Turkish or Egyptian soldier in a forward-deployed unit. I'm going into a mountaintop village. What am I looking for first?

SHEPPERD: You want to go in very, very carefully.

First of all, you want to have good intelligence about who and what is there. You want to have the village elders come out and lead you in, as opposed to go in on your own. You would have to be mindful that every building in there, every highway, is an opportunity for an ambush, an IED, a booby-trap out there. This is a job for professionals. And it's very dangerous and going to take time.

TODD: All right, General, thanks very much for joining us.

Wolf, that's an early look at how this might play out. But experts say, even if this force were agreed upon today, minimum three to four weeks, probably longer, before they actually take root in Lebanon -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Brian Todd, thank you very much.

And thank General Shepperd for us as well.

Up next, our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr gets an exclusive look at a mission of mercy involving refugees, bringing them to Cyprus.

And why are Democrats steaming about today's meeting between President Bush and the Iraqi prime minister? Details on the talks and the controversy -- all that coming up.

We're live in Jerusalem. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Prime Minister, welcome to the White House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here in the Middle East tonight, fresh attacks across the Israeli-Lebanese border, and a new admission by Hezbollah -- the Associated Press quoting a senior Hezbollah official as saying his guerrillas did not -- repeat, not -- expect Israel to react so strongly to the capture of those two Israeli soldiers.

The first shipment of U.S. humanitarian aid to Lebanon now is in the hands of the International Committee for the Red Cross. The supplies are designed to meet the basic medical needs of some 20,000 people in Lebanon.

And the last U.S. evacuation ship is scheduled to leave Lebanon tomorrow. U.S. Embassy in Beirut say most Americans who want to get out of harm's way have done so. They warn, any who still hope to leave should catch the last ship out of Lebanon right now.

Much more from here and the Middle East in a moment -- lots more going on.

First, though, let's check in with Zain Verjee once again for a quick look at some other important stories making news.

Hi, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf.

Utility officials say they may have to issue another emergency alert across California, and ask customers to cut back on using their air conditioners again today. Sweltering temperatures have pushed the state's electricity supply to the brink. Authorities are investigating at least 38 possible heat-related deaths. Most have been in California's Central Valley, where it has been in the triple digits.

Hundreds of firefighters in California are battling wildfires on two fronts. A 15,000-acre blaze has scorched 24 miles of the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County. It's about 5 percent contained. Another wildfire is burning near the million-dollar estates of many celebrities in Los Angeles' Benedict Canyon area. Roseanne Barr, Ann-Margret, and Eddie Murphy all have houses in that area. Authorities say the blaze has scorched about 25 acres.

Tens of thousands of people in the Saint Louis area still don't any electricity, six days after fierce storms caused widespread blackouts -- this as temperatures there have surged back into the 90s. Utility officials say the power should be mostly restored by tomorrow. Five deaths are blamed on the storms, including an electrical worker who died when he stepped on a live wire.

And oil prices have dropped slightly. They have gone down a dollar, to about $74 a barrel. Now, that's still close to their record high. Analysts cite lingering concern that the Middle East crisis could widen and trigger supply disruptions and U.S. refinery snags in Nigeria. AAA reports, a gallon of regular gasoline is about $3, on average, nationwide -- back to Wolf, though, in Jerusalem.

BLITZER: Zain, thank you very much.

Coming up: Deadly attacks surge in Baghdad, in the shadow of the Middle East crisis. Iraq's prime minister pays a call on the White House today. We are going to tell you what he and President Bush plan to do to try to end the violence in Iraq.

And a mission of mercy in Lebanon unfolding -- our Barbara Starr gets an exclusive look at the first U.S. military aid flights to arrive in war-scarred Beirut.

Live from Jerusalem, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

President Bush today is juggling two deadly situations here in the Middle East. He again stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. And he reaffirmed the need for more U.S. troops in Baghdad.

Mr. Bush appeared at a joint news conference with the visiting Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

Let's get more from our White House correspondent Ed Henry -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, President Bush knows that his legacy will rise or fall based on Iraq.

So, today, he eagerly proclaimed it an historic, remarkable moment, to be standing here in the White House, next to an Iraqi leader who had been elected in a free and fair election.

But that history was quickly overshadowed by some bad news announced by the president and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, that, basically, the U.S. commander on the ground in Iraq, General George Casey, is now sending more American troops to Baghdad.

It was just one month ago, of course, that the same General Casey was basically considering pulling two combat brigades, up to 10,000 U.S. troops, out of Iraq this fall, with the possibility of even deeper U.S. troop cuts in 2007, if -- and only if -- the conditions on the ground got better. But, obviously, based on this U.N. report, saying 100 Iraqis a day are being killed, and the president himself today acknowledging, that the situation in Iraq is still, in his words, "terrible," the president has another plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: This plan will involve embedding more U.S. military police with Iraqi police units to make them more effective.

The prime minister advised me that, to support this plan, he and General Casey have agreed to deploy additional American troops and Iraqi security personnel in Baghdad in the coming weeks. These will come from other areas of the country.

Our military commanders tell me that this deployment will better reflect the current conditions on the ground in Iraq.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, Democrats today also jumping on the fact that, at this press conference, Prime Minister Maliki refused an opportunity to clarify his position on the current crisis in Beirut.

Maliki has refused to condemn Hezbollah and has called the current conflict an act of -- quote -- "Israel's aggression," completely at odds with the president's view on the situation -- some Democrats demanding that, as a result, Republican leaders on Capitol Hill should withdraw the invitation to the prime minister to speak before a joint meeting of Congress tomorrow -- but, so far, it appears that speech moving ahead anyway -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What are they saying at the White House, Ed, about those controversial comments by Nouri al-Maliki condemning Israel, in sharp contrast, as you point out, to what the president is saying, supporting Israel?

HENRY: Well, quite interesting -- just a few moments ago, the president's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, was giving a briefing to reporters.

Beforehand, we had gotten some guidance, some -- from a Republican that, perhaps, there would be a clarification from the White House podium about what the prime minister is saying, at least privately. Maybe he had given an assurance to the president. But, when asked about it, in fact, Mr. Hadley basically said, the question was answered at the press conference by Prime Minister Maliki.

Another reporter said: Wait a second. He did not answer the question, completely dodged it. And, basically, Mr. Hadley put his hands up and said: I have nothing else on this -- so, the White House, basically, saying nothing on it, letting Mr. Maliki's words stand.

And, right now, he's not clarifying at all -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Ed, thanks very much.

Let me add a footnote -- the House minority leader today voicing Democratic complaints about those statements from Nouri al-Maliki, the bitter condemnation of Israel.

In a statement, Nancy Pelosi writes this -- and I will read it to our viewers" -- "Iraqi Prime Minister's Maliki's criticism of Israel's right to defend itself is unacceptable. At the White House this morning, Mr. Maliki did not retreat from his comments on Israel, and, once again, failed to criticize Hamas and Hezbollah's terrorist activities. Unless Mr. Maliki disavows his critical comments of Israel and condemns terrorism, it is inappropriate to honor him with a joint meeting of Congress" -- that joint meeting scheduled to go forward tomorrow.

We are going to have much more on this controversy coming up in the next hour, right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

But, up next: The first U.S. relief supplies have arrived in the battered city of Beirut, courtesy of the United States military. And we were allowed to go along on the flight -- not me -- Barbara Starr. She got an exclusive look.

And Israeli airstrikes hit south Beirut for the first time in two days, Hezbollah targets, the Israelis say, huge explosions echoing across the city. We are going to take you there live. That's coming up right at the top of the hour.

Live from Jerusalem, you're here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

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BLITZER: Here's a look at some of the "Hot Shots" coming in from our friends over at the Associated Press, pictures likely to be in your hometown newspapers tomorrow.

Haifa: A policeman helps a shaken Israeli woman and two children, after a rocket fired from Lebanon landed nearby.

Just south of the Israeli-Lebanese border, soldiers watch smoke rise from explosions in southern Lebanon.

In Avivim, members of an Israeli tank battalion triumphantly wave a tattered Hezbollah flag, after fighting across the border in southern Lebanon.

And, in Lebanon, a member of Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals walks dogs evacuated from a shelter in Beirut. The animals had been frightened by the Israel shelling -- some of today's "Hot Shots," pictures often worth 1,000 words.

The U.S. military is on a mission of mercy right now in Lebanon. U.S. Air Force helicopters have begun bringing supplies into battered Beirut.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr got an exclusive look at the relief effort. She is joining us now live from Larnaca in Cyprus.

How did it go, Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, early this morning, we boarded two U.S. Air Force special operations helicopters here in Cyprus, and took the 90-minute flight over to Beirut, carrying one ton of humanitarian supplies, medical equipment, medicines, and other supplies so desperately needed inside the city.

When we landed, after flying over southern Beirut, at the U.S. Embassy compound, U.S. Marines quickly -- very quickly -- unloaded the boxes for distribution in the city later in the day. They spent a very minimal amount of time on the ground, because of the situation there. But they did pause long enough, Wolf, to pick up one more American family that was waiting at the embassy to be flown out to safety -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Barbara Starr, we're going to be checking back with you in Cyprus. Thank you for that.

The United Nations, meanwhile, estimates, some 700 -- 700,000 Lebanese have fled their homes in Lebanon. Organizations around the world are mobilizing to send humanitarian aid to the Middle East region.

Standing by with more on what is being done and where you can find these organizations online, let's bring in our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner -- Jacki.

JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, the United Nations Refugee Agency says, the first of its emergency teams have landed in Beirut today, but it says it's having difficult getting supplies across the border from Damascus into Lebanon.

They say they have a convoy of some 20,000 mattresses, tents, generally, supplies that they're trying to get across the border. Now, they're buying supplies locally within Lebanon and helping distribute them, until they can do that. They are also, you can see, putting photos online of some of the aid here, handing out beverages to children in a school that is doubling as a shelter.

Mercy Corps, an independent international aid organization, says it handed out emergency kits to some 500 families in a small town named Kaifoun over the weekend. They're now trying to get more supplies into other areas of southern Lebanon.

There are 19 United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations that are banding together. In a new flash appeal, they're asking for immediate funds, some $150 million. They say they want to sustain some 800,000 displaced persons over the course of the next three months.

You can go to CNN.com/SITUATIONREPORT. We have got links online to these organizations and others that are offering humanitarian aid -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jacki, thanks for that.

Still to come: The U.S. is putting up a proposal to put up to two international peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. But are any countries willing to take part? Jack Cafferty standing to weigh in.

And next hour, here in THE SITUATION ROOM: my exclusive interview with Israel's vice premier, Shimon Peres -- why he says the current conflict means life or death for Israel.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Now, this just coming in to CNN from the Israeli army -- a statement saying that Israeli troops today killed what they're calling a senior Hezbollah military commander fighting along the border with Israel in southern Lebanon -- the army identifying the man as Abu Jafer (ph). And he said he was the com -- they said he was the commander of what they're calling Hezbollah's central sector on the Lebanese border with Israel.

The army said he was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli troops near the Lebanese border village of Maroun al-Ras, which the Israelis captured a days ago.

We're watching this story.

We're also standing by. We're told that the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, is about to make a statement -- we don't know if it's live or on tape -- on the Al-Manar television network, which is the Hezbollah television station in Beirut. We will monitor that and give you the latest on all fronts.

In the meantime, let's go to Jack Cafferty in New York -- Jack.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, the question this hour we asked is: Which countries should be part of an international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon?

Ryan writes, in California: "I think this is the perfect opportunity for the Arab nations to step up to the plate. Moderate countries in the Middle East should be sending what troops they have, to show the rest of the world that they are capable of taking control and bringing peace to their own region."

Dean, Thousand Oaks, California: "Turkey, a proven military leader and NATO member, would be one logical choice. Turkey garners the respect of and is a business partner with both Lebanon and Israel."

Tracy in Columbia, South Carolina: "Not us -- anybody but us. Let's see how Mexico, Venezuela, France and Cuba can do at being the world's police force for a change."

Brian in New York: "France and Turkey. Having both a Christian and a Muslim country there would reflect the makeup of Lebanon. And it's about time for France to step up to the plate."

Dave in Wisconsin writes: "Maybe you lose your Security Council veto if you won't provide troops when needed. Russia and China never provide troops, but are always willing to stop any progress from being made. Let them put troops in Lebanon."

And John in San Diego writes: "Switzerland. It's the only truly 'neutral' country in the world. And, besides, they have those cute little uniforms. They could be just as ineffective as any other nation in holding together a reluctant truce in the Middle East" -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much. We will check back to you in a few moments.

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