Associated Press - July 13, 2006
Developments in the Israel-Lebanon crisis stemming from the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah.
_ Israel intensified its attacks, blasting Beirut`s airport and two Lebanese army air bases near the Syrian border, and imposing a naval blockade. Warplanes punched holes in the runways of Beirut`s international airport and two military air bases.
_ Israel`s army chief Brig. Gen. Dan Halutz warned that "nothing is safe" in Lebanon and said Beirut itself - particularly Hezbollah offices and residences - would be a target.
_ The militant group said it would rocket the Israeli port city of Haifa if Israel hit Beirut.
_ Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israeli towns and said it was using a new missile that appeared to be more advanced than previous models.
_ One Israeli was killed, 36 people were wounded and thousands of civilians spent the night in underground shelters. Eight Israeli soldiers have been killed.
_ Two days of Israeli bombings killed 47 Lebanese, Health Minister Mohammed Jawad Khalife said.
_ The Israeli warnings of more attacks caused panic in Beirut, and many people stayed home from work.
_ Crude oil prices set an intraday record.
_ Western countries, Russia and the United Nations called for restraint and demanded the return of the captured Israeli soldiers. The Arab League called an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday. The Lebanese Cabinet urged the U.N. Security Council to intervene.
_ Secretary-General Kofi Annan planned to send three veteran United Nations officials to the Middle East, the U.N. said.
_ The European Union criticized Israel for using what it called "disproportionate" force in its attacks and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was planning a peace mission.
_ President Bush pledged to work with Israel, criticizing Hezbollah for thwarting efforts for peace in the Middle East.
_ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned that Israel`s Lebanon offensive "is raising our fears of a new regional war" and urged world powers to intervene.
_ Egypt launched a diplomatic bid to resolve the crisis, amid apparent frustration among moderate Arab nations that Hezbollah - and by implication its top ally Syria - had started the fight with Israel.
