Israeli air force jets on Sunday blasted a base in southern Lebanon used by the Islamic fundamentalist Hezbollah, or Party of God, a military spokesman announced. The target was in Jarjua village, which lies north of the Israeli-patrolled border security zone in southern Lebanon. All Israeli aircraft returned safely to their bases.
The raid came amid reports that pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon would soon release another Western hostage. Hezbollah is believed to be an umbrella for various factions holding hostages.
The strike was the second against targets in Lebanon since Friday, when Israeli planes struck simultaneously at two widely separated installations of Ahmed Jabril’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, one of which was in northern Lebanon.
All planes returned safely from that raid as well, although they encountered anti-aircraft fire, a military spokesman said.
Reports from Beirut said eight to 10 terrorists were killed in the raids on Friday. The targets were described as staging areas for attacks on Israel.
An ammunition dump was hit at one of the sites, located in the Bekaa Valley of eastern Lebanon, south of Sultan Ya’akub. Three terrorist senior officers were reported to have been seriously wounded.
The other target was in a cove on the coast near Khan Khayat, in northern Lebanon, about 62 miles from the Israeli border.
Both raids Friday were in areas of Lebanon controlled by Syria, but Syrian forces made no attempt to intervene.
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