The Deadliest Israeli Air Strike Yet (Video)

It happened today in the southern Lebanon village of Qana:

Israeli missiles hit several buildings in a southern Lebanon village as people slept Sunday, killing at least 56, most of them children, in the deadliest attack in 19 days of fighting.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed “great sorrow” for the airstrikes but blamed Hezbollah guerrillas for using the area to launch rockets at Israel, and said he would not halt the army’s operation.

The Lebanese Red Cross said the airstrike in Qana, in which at least 34 children were killed, pushed the overall Lebanese death toll to more than 500. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice postponed a visit to Lebanon in a setback for diplomatic efforts to end hostilities. She was to return to the U.S. Monday morning, abruptly breaking off her diplomatic mission in the Mideast.

Before the airstrike, Olmert told Rice he needed 10-14 days to finish the offensive in Lebanon, according to a senior Israeli government official. The two said they would meet again Sunday evening.

“We will not stop this battle, despite the difficult incidents this morning,” Olmert said said during Israel’s weekly Cabinet meeting, according to a participant in the meeting. “We will continue the activity and if necessary it will be broadened without hesitation.”

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan called an emergency Security Council meeting Sunday at the request of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora

The council was expected to discuss a French-sponsored draft resolution spelling out a series of steps meant to resolve the crisis, including an immediate halt to fighting.

Rice said she had called Saniora to postpone her visit to Lebanon; angry Lebanese officials said it was their government that called off the meeting.

Israeli said it targeted Qana because it was a base for hundreds of rockets launched at Israeli, including 40 that injured five Israelis on Sunday. Israel said it had warned civilians several days before to leave the village.

“One must understand the Hezbollah is using their own civilian population as human shields,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir. “The Israeli defense forces dropped leaflets and warned the civilian population to leave the place because the Hezbollah turned it into a war zone.”

But while the civilized world mourns the loss of these innocents, Hezbollah celebrates a huge victory in its propaganda war against Israel. Truly sick.

Responding to the attacks on this morning’s Meet The Press, Israel’s U.N. ambassador Dan Gillerman made it very clear that this “serves no one’s purpose except for Hezbollah and Iran” and that it was the direct result of Hezbollah’s use of civilians as human shields. And as Gillerman so eloquently puts it, “there will not be peace until the terrorists learn to love their children more than they hate us.” Watch it:

Meanwhile, Australia’s Herald Sun has exclusive photos of Hezbollah using crowded suburban areas as bases from which to launch rockets into Israel. Proof, it would seem to me, that it is Hezbollah which is directly responsible for the lives lost by Israeli counter strikes.

UPDATE: What some others are saying…

Tigerhawk on civilian casualties and dual racism:

There is not yet any reason to doubt Israel on this. Nevertheless, leaders of countries that have done worse are protesting, and Condoleezza Rice has postponed her next trip. They are pandering to the worldwide hatred of Israel. On the facts known this morning, culpability may just as easily lie with Hezbollah. Of course, it should never go unsaid that Hezbollah targets Israeli civilians without even bothering to justify its attacks on them as incidental to a military purpose. Killing Jews is quite sufficient, thank you very much. Every launch of every Hezbollah rocket into every Israeli city should earn similar denunciations, but they do not. Why? The dual racism that holds Israel to a higher standard than the rest of the world, and Arabs to a lower one. And, by the way, no profession is more culpable in the perpetuation of this dual racism than journalism. Even politicians do a better job of trying to play it fair.

Much in this most troubled part of the world would become more clear if we just held everybody to the same standard of behavior. It can be a high standard or a low standard, but let’s just agree on what it is. Does the intent to kill civilians matter, or not? Does the wearing of uniforms matter, or not? Should an army prosecute those of its soldiers who violate law and morality, or hail them as heroes? Let us shake off this habit of giving insurgents a pass in these things because it seems useless to condemn them. It is not. It is corrosive to our civilization, not their’s, when we uphold their values at the expense of our own.

Alexandra von Maltzan:

I am sorry for the horrific human suffering created in the bombing of Qana, southern Lebanon today, but if these people do not care for human life they endanger, why should Israel sacrifice their own which they do care about? Hezbollah has been using Qana as a base for launching hundreds of rockets at Israel, happily waiting for the bitter memory of the Operation Grapes of Wrath propaganda to do their dirty work for them. The people there should be horrified and disgusted at what Hezbollah are doing, and at the inability and unwillingness of their own cowardly Government to disarm Hezbollah, instead of allowing the MSM to portray Hezbollah as some kind of liberating heroes. Israel cannot be blamed for loss of life in these circumstances.

Michelle Malkin notes that the U.N. headquarters in Beirut has been attacked.

Rick Moran: All That’s Missing Are The Pom-Poms

Allah Pundit questions the timing of the Qana building collapse.

FILED UNDER: Blogosphere, Middle East, Terrorism, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Greg Tinti
About Greg Tinti
Greg started the blog The Political Pit Bull in August 2005. He was OTB's Breaking News Editor from June through August 2006 before deciding to return to his own blog. His blogging career eventually ended altogether. He has a B.A. in Anthropology from The George Washington University,

Comments

  1. jainphx says:

    How many civilians were killed in kosovo,while bombing from a cowardly 15,000 feet? Just asking.

  2. Herb says:

    Bombing from 15,000 feet ?

    That’s the way it’s dome, I would not want anyone to bomb Kamikaze style, like the terrorist do with their suicide bombers, would you?

    Cowardly ? If that is cowardly, them what about the many thousands of unarmed civilians that were lined up , shot, and buried in the mass graves in Kosovo.

    Seems to me that there is a little uneven, self serving thinking going on here.

  3. Cernig says:

    Tigerhawk writes:

    Much in this most troubled part of the world would become more clear if we just held everybody to the same standard of behavior. It can be a high standard or a low standard, but letâ??s just agree on what it is. Does the intent to kill civilians matter, or not? Does the wearing of uniforms matter, or not? Should an army prosecute those of its soldiers who violate law and morality, or hail them as heroes? Let us shake off this habit of giving insurgents a pass in these things because it seems useless to condemn them. It is not. It is corrosive to our civilization, not theirâ??s, when we uphold their values at the expense of our own.

    Time to remember the Irgun and Lehi terror groups of the forties perhaps?

    It amazes me that neocon cheerleaders can so blithely talk about double standards, about hiding among civilians, about proportionality, and forget the past at the same time. Here’s the Irgun Conundrum:

    If neocon policy had always been followed would the state of Israel even exist in its modern form?

    And the answer is, of course, “No”.

    Regards, Cernig

  4. anjin-san says:

    Exactly where are all these portrayals of Hezbollah as “liberating heroes” in the dreaded “MSM”? I must not be looking hard enough.

    Pretty sad when you use a tragic situation like this to further your political agenda.

  5. Oldcrow says:

    Here is a video of the hezzies firing Fajr-3’s into Isreal and then hiding in civilian buildings it is a perfect example of why Qana happened Fajr-3 takedown video Unfortunately it requires you tube registration.

  6. Oldcrow says:

    Time to remember the Irgun and Lehi terror groups of the forties perhaps?
    It amazes me that neocon cheerleaders can so blithely talk about double standards, about hiding among civilians, about proportionality, and forget the past at the same time. Here�s the Irgun Conundrum:
    If neocon policy had always been followed would the state of Israel even exist in its modern form?
    And the answer is, of course, �No�.
    Regards, Cernig
    Posted by Cernig at July 30, 2006 15:47

    Oh yeah lets play history clue bat!
    Lets see do you recall cernig the grand mufti of Jerusalem? Do you recall he was Hitlers pet lapdog? Or that Hitler let him know about the “final solution” before anyone else? How about the muslim SS Panzer brigades (which by the way were all volunteers)? Link here with pictures OH YEAH!! Or how about the FACT that the majority of the population of the ME was Christian and Jew until the religion of piece came along I wonder where they all went? Here is a link to the true story of the Crusades. It amazes me when you anti-semitic LIBS/Buchananites/isolationists try to have a selective view of history in order to push your agenda. It really is most amusing. Want to see what your future is if you keep supporting islamic fascist terrorist’s like Hezzbuttah and hamas? Here is a LINK.

  7. Oldcrow says:

    Time to remember the Irgun and Lehi terror groups of the forties perhaps?
    It amazes me that neocon cheerleaders can so blithely talk about double standards, about hiding among civilians, about proportionality, and forget the past at the same time. Here�s the Irgun
    Posted by Cernig at July 30, 2006 15:47

    Oh yeah lets play history clue bat!
    Lets see do you recall cernig the grand mufti of Jerusalem? Do you recall he was Hitlers pet lapdog? Or that Hitler let him know about the “final solution” before anyone else? How about the muslim SS Panzer brigades (which by the way were all volunteers)? Link here with pictures OH YEAH!! Or how about the FACT that the majority of the population of the ME was Christian and Jew until the religion of piece came along I wonder where they all went? Here is a link to the true story of the Crusades. It amazes me when you anti-semitic LIBS/Buchananites/isolationists try to have a selective view of history in order to push your agenda. It really is most amusing. Want to see what your future is if you keep supporting islamic fascist terrorist’s like Hezzbuttah and hamas? Here is a LINK.

  8. cian says:

    Greg, I don’t get it- Hezbollah use Lebanese citizens as shields therefore its OK to kill the shields. To destroy a house full of children, cars fleeing villages, red cross ambulances, on and on until what exactly? At this stage there is little difference between the savagery of Hezbollah and the savagery of Israel. Does anyone seriously think this is going to lead to a safer, better middle east? If American citizens continue to allow their government and its apologists to pursue this madness and destroy everything America once stood for, there can be no peace anywhere. For God sake demand your government use its influence to save lives, just this once. You can go back to endlessly defending Bush and the neo-cons later.

  9. Oldcrow says:

    Cian,
    So what exactly is Israel supposed to do? Because the hezzies keep hiding behind civilians then the IDF should not strike back? So the hezzies just get to keep killing innocent Israelis? Shooting rockets indiscriminately into Israel hitting hospitals and apartment buildings. The hezzies and their ilk know that if civilians are killed then people like you will forget about their atrocities and demand Israel stop defending itself, so they continue to hide behind civilians why? Because it has worked time and time again for them! The only way to stop it is to make it clear to them that it does not benefit them to do it why can’t you see that? There are reports the hezzies are not allowing civilians to evacuate from the combat zone even though Israel announces with leaflets and radio that the area is a target why do you think that is? Get a clue the only way it is going to stop is if the hezzies are held to account. I find it interesting you have not mentioned any of the Israeli civilians killed by the hezzies I wonder why?

  10. Oldcrow says:

    It appears the building collapsed eight hours after it was hit by the IDF, could it be the hezzies maybe blew it up with civilians inside for the propaganda value? Read the story link HERE.

    Here is a video of the leaflets that were dropped in Qana and it turns out over 150 missiles have been fired from Qana and the IDF had been shelling and bombing it for days which leads to the question what were the civilians doing there? Here is the LINK.

  11. Bithead says:

    Anjin-San, this one is just for you:

    THE NEWS IS filled these days with reports of civilian casualties, comparative civilian body counts and criticism of Israel, along with Hezbollah, for causing the deaths, injuries and “collective punishment” of civilians. But just who is a “civilian” in the age of terrorism, when militants don’t wear uniforms, don’t belong to regular armies and easily blend into civilian populations?

    and again:

    There is a vast difference � both moral and legal � between a 2-year-old who is killed by an enemy rocket and a 30-year-old civilian who has allowed his house to be used to store Katyusha rockets. Both are technically civilians, but the former is far more innocent than the latter. There is also a difference between a civilian who merely favors or even votes for a terrorist group and one who provides financial or other material support for terrorism.

    The writer is Alan Dershowitz.

    A tragic situation? Civilains being killed? WHich civilians are those… Do you mean you mean the civilians who are being warned to vacate the area by the Israelis before the airstrikes commence? You DO mean THOSE civilians, don’t you?

    If you’re suggesting the UN step in, take another look at the UN’s resolution 1559, and tell me how well those goals were met..What can be done now that wasn’t done then?

    And it’s a little late for Lebenon to be claiming that they are not Hezbolah, when they have Hezbolah in their government.

  12. Cernig says:

    Old Crow, you can’t solve the Irgun Conundrum by pointing at others and saying “but look what THEY did” ol chap. It’s called a “strawman” agrument. Deal with the Irgun if you can. If you can, then I’m prepared to believe that your viewpoint isn’t internally contradicted and might even then pay attention to your Islamophobic rants.

    Can I still be anti-semitic if I named my youngest son after my best friend the local Cantor? I’m not sure that I can. I will have to ask him. Trouble is, he agrees with me. Can a Jewish Cantor be an anti-semite too?

    Maybe I’m just someone who thinks logic is an important part of advancing an argument, eh? Right now, I don’t think you do.

    Cernig

  13. Bob says:

    Cernig —

    The Geneva Convention specifically prohibits a combatant from mixing his forces among civilians. The onus is clearly on the defender to keep his forces separate from civilians. If he mixes with civilians and fires upon his enemy, those forces remain a legitimate target and any civilian facilities those forces are using lose their protetced status. In other words, it’s a war crime. Where’s the outcry against that?

    Does Hezbollah get a pass just because they’re fighting Israelis?

  14. Oldcrow says:

    Can I still be anti-semitic if I named my youngest son after my best friend the local Cantor? I’m not sure that I can. I will have to ask him. Trouble is, he agrees with me. Can a Jewish Cantor be an anti-semite too?

    In a word? Yes there have always been those who hate themselves through out history just look at the Jewish left in this country or did you know Adolf Hitler was half Jew? Have you received the clue yet? The Irgun and Lehi were defending themselves and their people against the Isamofascist threat pure and simple you would know this if you did not have a selective reading of history like all those on your side of the argument and tell me exactly what homeland are the hezzies fighting for? Last time I checked Israel had been out of Lebanon since 2000 as I recall and if I use your logic none of the Arab states are legitimate since they were all created by mandate except Egypt, remember the Ottoman empire? Strawman nah the only strawmen around here are your and the others like you. One last point you and those like you better get a clue and understand what Israel and the rest of western civilization are fighting here, to the Isamofascists you and anyone that does not see things their way are cattle pure and simple. Don’t believe me? Listen to it in Nasrallah’s and the other Islamofascist leaders own words on video go to this LINK hope you have a high speed Internet connection the film is about an hour and 17 minutes long. I am really sorry you have to lose your utopian world view but you will be better for it my friend.

  15. Oldcrow says:

    Here is link that you might be interested in Cernig it is a Lebanese armed forces blog, read how the brave hezzie fighters are doing business, this is what you are supporting still think you have the moral high ground in this? Still think Israel has no right to exist and by extent ion no right to defend itself? If you do I pity you. LINK.

  16. Cernig says:

    Oldcrow,
    In a word? Yes there have always been those who hate themselves through out history just look at the Jewish left in this country or did you know Adolf Hitler was half Jew?

    That’s one word? Actually, Hitler wasn’t half Jew either. There’s been some speculation that one of his grandfathers was Jewish and that would make him a quarter jewish descent if true. The evidence is thin. The rest of your tirade rests on just as flimsy a footing.

    The Irgun and Lehi were defending themselves and their people against the Isamofascist threat pure and simple What, by bombing and assasinating Brits?

    till think Israel has no right to exist and by extent ion no right to defend itself? I’ve never said this nor have I ever defended Islamofascism. In fact, not many days ago I wrote a post recommending assasination as a tactical tool instead of bombing. I don’t fit in the box you want me too. Please don’t paint me with the broad brush of your prejudices.

    Bob,
    No, Hizboullah doesn’t get a pass from me. I would be more than happy to see Hizboullah finished as a force in the ME and I have condemned their violence (and those of other terror groups) in posts at my blog. I just don’t happen to think the neocon’s preferred paradigm of third generational warfare is the right way to accomplish beating a fourth generation enemy. In fact, it does the reverse – losing by winning. Then, to justify their failure to accomplish anything real when they win individual battles, the users of that paradigm have to keep pushing the boat out with ridiculously unrealistic arguments like “there are no true civilians if you’ve warned them two hours before” or “the problem is we don’t kill enough”. If people couldn’t get out of the way of Katrina in a first world nation, what makes you think everyone will be able to get out of the way of airstrikes in, effectively, a third world one? The knock-on effect is familiar from many other theatres- hostility and fresh recruits bolster the 4thGW adversary.

    As an aside, I personally think the Geneva Conventions need revised and updated to account for fights with 4thGW enemies. What those revisions would look like is another debate though.

    Regards, Cernig

  17. anjin-san says:

    Bithead,

    OK now show me where the “MSM” refers to Hezbollah as “liberating heroes”. That was the topic of my post. I notice you were unable to supply any examples.

    And yes, I do think the deaths of any civilians is tragic. I don’t give a crap if they are Arab, Israeli, or Martian. A kid getting blown to bits is a tragedy.

  18. Bithead says:

    Clearly, you’ve not been reading Al-Jezeera of late.