Israel yesterday threatened to target Lebanese airports, other than Beirut’s international airport, and attack areas of Beirut where Hezbollah leaders live and where it alleges long-range rockets are stored.
Hezbollah replied that if such attacks took place its forces will launch attacks on major Israeli cities.
This new threat to the Lebanon came after Israel imposed an air, sea and land blockade on Thursday morning, also bombing Beirut international airport.
Fifty three civilians were killed in air raids across Lebanon.
Israel also sent warships into Lebanese waters.
An Israeli Army spokeswoman said: ‘This step was taken because Lebanese ports aid the movement of terrorists and the transfer of arms which are then used to launch anti-Israeli attacks.’
Israeli warships were patrolling Lebanese territorial waters to enforce the blockade, Israeli Army radio reported.
They were tasked with restricting access to the Lebanese ports of Sidon, Tyre, Beirut and Tripoli.
‘Israel is imposing an air, maritime and land blockade on Lebanon until further orders as part of operations to retrieve its two soldiers abducted by Hezbollah on Wednesday,’ the army radio announced, quoting Israeli military officials.
France and Russia have condemned the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, while the US described the offensive as Tel Aviv’s right to defend itself.
French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that France was calling for ‘the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon to be preserved.’
Russia criticised Israel’s ‘disproportionate use of force’ against Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, saying that civilians were being made to suffer.
