Israelis Mass On Lebanese Border

Israelis Mass On Lebanese Border

Israeli forces have been gathering near the border with Lebanon Israel has massed soldiers and tanks on the border with Lebanon and called up thousands of reserve troops, in a possible prelude to a ground offensive. Planes dropped leaflets on southern Lebanon warning any civilians to leave. Israeli soldiers are already fighting Hezbollah inside Lebanon, but the army chief of staff said any incursion into the country would be limited in scope. The US secretary of state is to travel to the Middle East on Sunday in an attempt to resolve the crisis. Condoleezza Rice said she was seeking an "endurable peace" - but not an immediate ceasefire that would return the region to the pre-conflict era. The crisis was triggered by the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants on 12 July. The tenth day of fighting saw fresh Israeli air raids and shelling and Hezbollah rocket-fire on Israel's city of Haifa. In other developments: Images from Beirut as the scale of destruction begins to emerge In pictures Italy will host an international conference on the crisis next Wednesday Israel's military chief said the country's forces had killed nearly 100 Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon Top UK aid agencies united to call for a ceasefire The evacuation of foreign nationals from Lebanon continued. Bulldozer burials The call-up has widened speculation the Israeli army is preparing for a major ground offensive, after days of what they call "restricted pinpoint attacks" into southern Lebanon in search of Hezbollah weapons and facilities. Mid-East crisis map Correspondents in Jerusalem say it is understood the Israeli reservists being called up could fill in for troops in the West Bank and Gaza, releasing other soldiers to go up to the northern front. Hundreds of armoured vehicles are backed up south of the Lebanese border. However, Israeli army chief of staff Dan Halutz said they would "conduct limited ground operations as much as needed" to "harm the terror that harms us". Senior Lebanese officials said the country's army would go into battle if Israel invaded Lebanon. The call-up came as residents of southern Lebanon continued to flee the area, and in the city of Tyre a bulldozer was used to bury 80 people killed in the region. The regional capital of south Lebanon, Sidon, says about 28,000 internally displaced people have already crammed into the small sea port - and it is becoming dangerously overcrowded. Sidon's mayor has warned that food, medicines, water and accommodation are running out. HAVE YOUR SAY It takes true courage to wage peace, and not one leader in all of mid-east... or anywhere else has that courage Jared, US Send us your comments Where the parties stand Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the number of Lebanese killed in the 10 days of violence is now more than 330. In northern Israel, two fresh waves of Hezbollah rockets hit the city of Haifa, causing at least 15 injuries. Three were injured, though none seriously, when a rocket landed on a post office on Masarik square. Thirty-four Israelis have been killed in the fighting, including 15 civilians killed by rockets fired by Hezbollah into Israel.