THE ISRAELI army was on high alert yesterday in Israels self styled security zone in southern Lebanon. Senior army officers were demanding strong reprisal action after a series of attacks by Hizbollah gunmen in the last 10 days which has left five Israeli soldiers dead and 17 injured.
In the most recent attack on March 14th, eight soldiers were injured when Hizbollah gunmen ambushed an Israeli Defence Force (IDE) convoy in the eastern section of the security zone, first detonating a roadside bomb as the soldiers drove by, then opening fire with missiles and automatic assault rifles.
In two previous attacks gunmen had succeeded in traversing the security zone and advancing almost to Israel's northern border fence, before being detected. A total of 20 Hizbollah militants have been killed by the Israeli army in over 100 clashes since the beginning of the year.
Israel has responded to the 95 calculated attacks with artillery fire on Hizbollah targets north of the security zone, but had refrained from major military action, fearing it would jeopardise the anti terror summit. But with the convention over, senior Israeli officers have begun calling for strong reprisals.
The IDF, military sources said yesterday, could no longer afford to hold back. "The IDF has acted with restraint until now because of the conference in Sharem alSheikh, said one senior officer, "but this restraint has been mistaken for weakness."
The Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, would say only that Israel would draw the appropriate conclusions from the Hizbollah attacks. But Mr Peres did charge Syria, which has backed the Shi'ite movement with not doing enough to stem Hizbollah activity.
The latest wave of attacks has been seen in Israel as a Syrian response to Jerusalem's decision to suspend peace talks with Damascus after President Hafez Assad refused to condemn the latest spate of suicide bombings by Hamas militants in Israel. Mr Assad, Israeli army sources estimate, is trying to send a message to Israel that without a political accommodation with Syria, there will be little respite on Israel's northern border.
"This is Syria's answer to the international conference in Sharem," said Israel's Deputy Defence Minister Mr Ori Orr. "There is no doubt that this is an intended escalation by the Syrians. They have made the security zone unbearable."
In Lebanon there were fears of a major impending IDF operation. Writing on the anti terror summit the Lebanese daily A Nahar said: "The United States and Israel have received permission to carry out violent and terroristic attacks, under the excuse of fighting terror."
A general strike was called in Lebanon on March 14th to mark the anniversary of Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon during the 1978 Litani Operation.