Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who ordered the offensive against Lebanon after two soldiers were captured in a deadly raid by Hizbullah fighters last Wednesday, on Sunday warned of "long term consequences" of an attack on Haifa which killed and wounded scores of Israelis.
"Our government is determined to do everything necessary to reach our objectives. Nothing will prevent us," he said. "There will be long-term consequences on the northern border and in Lebanon and in the entire region."
Following the attack, the Israeli army warned the residents of southern Lebanon to leave their homes in two hours and move ahead of Israeli bombarments that were to follow shortly after the deadline expires.
Israel's GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Udi Adam told reporters "Hizbullah's actions do not surprise us. They've been stockpiling these arms for many years and the Lebanese government allowed this to happen."
According to the general, Hizbullah "is in Lebanon not to defend [the country] but in waiting for the day they would be able to harm Israel. As far as we are concerned there are no surprises [in the current situation] and only determination will change the it."
"We have no intention to drag Syria into this conflict and all of our steps are cautious and measured. The objective is to change reality here in Israel and this is why our targets in Lebanon keep changing," he said, according to Haaretz.
"We have a pretty good idea where they are launching their rockets from - villages and small communities - and we have warned civilian resident to evacuate their homes," Maj. Gen. Adam added.
Before the Haifa attacks, Israeli television reported Sunday that Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah had been injured in an attack on his stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. But a Hezbollah official strongly denied the report, saying: "This is mere Israel propaganda."
At least 100 Lebanese have died over the five-day offensive that has put Lebanon under an air and sea blockade, with wave after wave of air strikes that have shut the international airport, destroyed bridges and roads.
