Northern border clash

The northern border was engulfed in flames this week when Hizbullah
initiated a major clash with the IDF by first shelling the Shabbaa Farms
area in the far east of the border, then sending in patrols to try to kidnap
IDF soldiers, and then extending the bombardment all the way to the western
end at the Mediterranean. The IDF returned heavy artillery fire, and also
increased security and added aerial attacks. The IAF took the opportunity
to destroy a Hizbullah headquarters in the region as well as numerous other
hits. In one action the IDF detected a Hizbullah patrol within Israeli
territory and a marksman managed to shoot and kill four of them. Many
residents near the border spent a night in shelters, something that hasn't
happened in years. But, there were no Israeli casualties, and today
everything seems quiet.
In a major turnaround, the UN Security Council criticized Hizbullah for
shattering the quiet on the border and for trying to carry out murderous
attacks and kidnappings within Israel. It criticized the Lebanese
Government again for not taking control of its own territory in Southern
Lebanon. When the IDF withdrew from south Lebanon the Lebanese Government
claimed victory in its desire to retrieve its land, but instead allowed
Hizbullah to take control of the area. Now that Syria has been ejected from
Lebanon, and a new anti-Syrian Lebanese Government is in office, it is time
for the Lebanese Army to take over from Hizbullah. The UN also reiterated
its support for Israel's claim that it has left all of South Lebanon, and
that the Shabaa Farms area is really a part of Syria, that was transferred
to Lebanon only to provide Hizbullah with an excuse.
Prior to the UN condemnation of Hizbullah, the Western media reported the
clash as if both sides were equally to blame, and they particularly
emphasized the IDF killing of the four Hizbullah gunmen. Some avoided
noting that they were killed on Israeli territory. But, now in order to
bring an end to the clashes, the Israeli Government announced today that
thru the auspices of the Red Cross they will return the four bodies to the
Lebanese Government. In exchange the UN and Israel hope and expect that the
Lebanese Government will take responsibility for its own territory.
In an unusual move IAF planes dropped leaflets over Beirut pointing out that
Hizbullah not Israel initiated this clash and that Hizbullah does not
represent the sovereign interests of Lebanon but is controlled by Syria and
Iran. There was an implied threat here that if Hizbullah does not stop its
attacks then the IDF knows where to hit. An unusual letter from a Lebanese
Muslim today in the Jerusalem Post said that Israel should do just that,
instead of leafleting Beirut, bomb Damascus! Now that Syria is no longer in
control in Lebanon and is very unpopular there, maybe the fate of the last
armed militia in Lebanon, Hizbullah, can be sealed.