Lebanon: Israel kills 12 civilians in air strikes

Reuters

Israeli commandos snatched at least three suspected Hizbollah members from the ancient city of Baalbek, deep inside Lebanon, on Wednesday in a raid backed by air strikes that killed at least 12 civilians.

Israeli soldiers landed from helicopters near a Hizbollah-run hospital near Baalbek in the eastern Bekaa Valley, captured several Hizbollah members and took them to Israel, the Israeli army said.

"During the night, (Israeli) forces operated in the town of Baalbek," an Israeli army spokeswoman said. "A number of terrorists were also arrested and taken to Israel."

She said the troops had returned safely to Israel. It was the first helicopter-borne assault far from the border since Israel's war with Hizbollah began three weeks ago.

Lebanese security sources said at least three low-ranking members of the Shi'ite Islamist group were seized in the raid. But Hizbollah denied they belonged to the group.

At least 11 civilians were killed when Israeli air strikes hit the village of Jammaliyeh near Baalbek. Security sources said five family members were found dead in the rubble of their house. Six other villagers were killed and two wounded. One civilian was killed by an air strike in Hermel to the north. Read more