Israel moves towards Lebanon land offensive
Foreign citizens flee Lebanon as bombing intensifies
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Friday, 21, Jul 2006 01:51
Israel has advised people in the Lebanese border region to leave, prompting fears that a full-scale land offensive is imminent.
As Israeli forces continue to bombard Hizbullah targets in southern Lebanon and more rockets fall on the Israeli coastal city of Haifa, expectation is growing that the Israelis are set to increase their military efforts.
Leaflets have been dropped in the border region advising those living there that they will be "bombed intensively" if they stay.
"Whoever remains in this area puts his life in danger," the leaflets, signed by the state of Israel, warned.
They added that anyone driving a pick-up or truck would be considered as part of Hizbullah and would be exposed to shelling.
The leaflet drop has led many military observers to predict that, as the conflict enters its tenth day, Israel is preparing to invade southern Lebanon.
Such suggestions seem to have been strengthened by the news that Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officials are planning to call up more reservists to increase its military personnel.
The IDF also confirmed that four of its soldiers were killed last night after heavy fighting near Avivim in southern Lebanon, while 40 Hizbullah targets, including vehicles and rocket launchers, were hit in overnight strikes.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Britons have arrived in Cyprus as Royal Navy ships HMS Bulwark and HMS York docked after their journeys from Beirut.
A Greek ferry has also been used by the British government to help evacuate some of the estimated 22,000 British nationals and dual-nationality citizens wanting to leave the bombed country.