Israel offensive hits southern Beirut
Israel tightened its seal on Lebanon today, blasting air and road links and bringing its offensive to the capital for the first time.
Warplanes bombed runways at Beirut’s airport with hours of airstrikes and also destroyed mountain bridges on the main highway to Syria.
Warships also blockaded Lebanon’s ports for a second day.
US president George Bush has acknowledged that the Israeli assault could bring down the Western-backed, anti-Syrian government of Lebanon.
Bush spoke by phone with Lebanese prime minister Fuad Saniora and promised to pressure Israel “to limit damage to Lebanon .. and to spare civilians and innocent people from harm”, according to a statement from Saniora’s office.
So far, 61 people have been killed in Lebanon during three days of Israel’s bombardment, including three who died in bombing of south Beirut early today, according to police.
