Israeli ground troops advanced further into Lebanon on Wednesday, while heavy fire continues between Israeli and Hizbullah forces in and around the villages of Aita Al Shaab and Bint Jbail in the southern part of the country.
Hizbullah sources reported that at least four Israeli soldiers had been killed in the clashes, according to Reuters, though other sources did not reported no Israeli casualties on Wednesday.
Also, the Israeli Air Force attacked more than 120 targets throughout Lebanon during the day, the majority of which Israel claims to be Hizbullah structures, including several rocket launchers, munitions hide-outs, as well as roads and bridges on the Litani River used by Hizbullah.
Earlier in the day, reports surfaced that the wife and five children of a senior Hizbullah member were killed in an Israeli aerial attack in the city of Mashghara, in southeast Lebanon.
Also on Wednesday, Hizbullah forces fired a Syrian-made 302-mm Khaibar-1 missile at the Israeli port city of Haifa, according to Ynet. Four other long-range missiles and nearly 100 Katyusha rockets were also fired at northern Israeli towns throughout the day.
Israeli cabinet mulls military expansion in Lebanon
Meanwhile, Israel’s cabinet convened on Wednesday to debate whether or not to expand its current military operation in southern Lebanon in order to secure the swathe of land south of the Litani River to curb Hizbullah’s ability to target northern Israel with rocket fire.
Israeli leaders are weighing the option of the expanded the operation before the United Nations officially moves to end violence between the two sides and calls for a cease-fire.
Israeli officials are concerned about approving such a move as it would likely increase the number of Israeli casualties significantly while doing little to lessen Hizbullah rocket attacks on Israel.
The UN Security Council is not expected to vote on the matter before Thursday, as a resolution is not likely to be agreed upon by then between Council members. Members have thus far disagreed over fundamental elements of the resolution’s text, including whether or not Israeli troops should remain in Lebanon until an alternative international fighting force arrives to replaces them.
