The AP provides a sort of an omnibus morning roundup of a number of different developments in Lebanon. They are reporting that 12 Israel soldiers have died in ground fighting and on a number of other events since yesterday.
BEIRUT, Lebanon – Hezbollah inflicted heavy casualties on Israeli troops as they battled for a key hilltop town in southern Lebanon for a fourth day Wednesday, with at least 12 soldiers reported killed. Israel has faced fiercer resistance than expected as it advances across the border in its campaign against the Islamic militant group.
Meanwhile, Lebanese officials confirmed that four U.N. observers were killed when an Israeli airstrike struck their post the night before.
Also Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the country is seeking to establish a 1.2-mile-wide strip in southern Lebanon that will be free of Hezbollah guerrillas. It was the first time Israel had given the dimensions of its new "security zone."
The fighting came a day after Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Israel plans to maintain a security zone in the south until either a multinational force is deployed or Hezbollah is pushed back in a cease-fire agreement that also cuts off the supply of its weapons.
Peretz indicated that troops would try to control such a zone from a distance, by artillery fire and airstrikes, rather than patrolling south Lebanon. The remarks were the first indication of the possibility of a longer Israeli involvement than previously had been raised by officials wary of public anger over its 18-year occupation of the area that ended in 2000.
Olmert told a parliament committee Wednesday that Israel will not reoccupy any part of southern Lebanon, participants said, apparently to reassure lawmakers and the public that troops will not return to Lebanon permanently.
I'm still looking for more morning detailed reports, but this is a good general overview.
I think the only “report” of 12 IDF deaths comes from Hezbollah. Now I ask, “How would they know?”
The village is surrounded by the IDF. Even if Hez was in radio contact with the remnants of their forces, none of them is even remotely capable of counting bodies in the attacking IDF force.
Another coup for the AP!
Interesting point. Ha’aretz is reporting two dead at the moment, with a larger number of wounded.