Israel strikes Lebanon
Updated on 13 July 2006
Vengeance as Israel bombs Beirut airport, blockades Lebanon's ports and kills over 50.
An Israeli army 155 mm mobile artillery piece fires into southern Lebanon from a position on the frontier in Zaura July 13, 2006. (Reuters)
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The Israeli government has said it's concerned that two of its soldiers held by Hezbollah could be transferred from Lebanon to Iran.
The soldiers were seized by Hezbollah guerrillas inside Israel - prompting Israel to launch a fierce military onslaught in Lebanon, which is reported to have already led to more than 50 civilian deaths.
Israel said it was planning a long campaign and intended to enforce an air and sea blockade until the conflict ended.
The Israeli military offensive has been swift. There was an air attack on Beirut International Airport, forcing it to close.
A missile was fired at Hezbollah's television station in a Beirut suburb. Lebanon's ports were blockaded by warships - to stop weapons from reaching Hezbollah, according to Israel.
And at least 35 people were believed to have been killed in air strikes in southern Lebanon. In Gaza, where another Israeli soldier is being held by militants, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry was hit.
After the Lebanon attacks, Hezbollah reacted by firing rockets at Nahariya and Safed in northern Israel. Two people were killed. In the last hour, Haifa has also been hit.
Our foreign correspondent Jonathan Miller made it to Beirut before the airport was bombed.
