IDF announcements re soldiers killed/wounded

July 25th 2006
IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT

Two IDF soldiers killed, 14 wounded in IDF operation in the early morning

An IDF officer and an IDF soldier were killed, two soldiers were severely wounded, 5 were moderately wounded and 7 lightly wounded in an IDF operation in the area of Bint Jabel in southern Lebanon.

In the past day, IDF forces have been operating in the area of Bint Jabel, operating in a complex urban environment in order to destroy Hezbollah's terror infrastructure in the areas near the Israeli-Lebanese border. Forces are targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, weapons stores and facilities. Following IDF requests in the past days, most of the civilian population has evacuated the area.

In the early morning hours of July 24th 2006, heavy exchanges of fire developed between IDF forces and Hezbollah, during which 2 soldiers were severely sounded and 4 were moderately wounded. Apparently some of the wounded were hit by IDF fire. The incident is being
investigated.

IDF tanks which arrived at the location in order to evacuate the wounded were hit by Hezbollah fire. An officer and a soldier were killed and eight others were injured in the attack.

The IDF will continue to use all means at its disposal in order to secure the citizens of Israel against the terror attacks originating from Lebanese territory, and to return the two abducted IDF soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser to their homes safely.