Overview

On July 12, 2006, Hezbollah carried out the most serious terrorist attack against IDF forces and Israeli communities along the Israeli-Lebanese border since the IDF withdrew from Lebanon in May 2000. During the attack two Israeli soldiers were abducted, eight soldiers and one civilian woman were killed and approximately 54 soldiers and civilians were wounded (as of noon on July 13).

The Israeli government convened an emergency meeting and stated that it viewed the Lebanese government as solely responsible for the Hezbollah attack. In response to the attack the IDF shelled Lebanese infrastructures and Hezbollah targets in both north and south Lebanon . Hezbollah responded by firing Katyusha rockets at Israeli population centers in the northern part of the country. A separate analysis of the Hezbollah attack and the IDF's response will appear during the day.

During the past few years the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center has issued dozens of Information Bulletins about Hezbollah, its involvement in anti-Israli and global terrorism and about the sponsorship it receives from Syria and Iran . They can be found in the ITIC Website through the “Hezbollah” link. The following is a selection of ITIC Information Bulletins providing basic and day-to-day information from the past year about Hezbollah activities:

A. Basic information:

1) “Profile of the Lebanese Shiite Terrorist Organization of Global Reach Sponsored by Iran and Supported by Syria ,” Parts 1 and 2, at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia//ENGLISH/IRAN/PDF/JUNE_03.PDF and http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia//ENGLISH/IRAN/PDF/JULY_03.PDF .

2) “ Iran as a State Sponsoring and Operating Terror,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia//ENGLISH/IRAN/PDF/APR_03.PDF .

B. Current and updated Information Bulletins:

1) “ Terrorism and humor: a satirical show severely criticizing Hezbollah was shown on Lebanese LBC-TV,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/lbc_e_tv.pdf .

2) “Katyusha rockets fired deep into the Galilee led to a day of exchange of heavy fire between the IDF and Hezbollah, the most significant since Israel withdrew from Lebanon (May 2000),” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_be0506.pdf .

3) “Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah boasts of the organization's ability to maintain a balance of deterrence with Israel ,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_e0506.pdf .

4) “Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah general secretary, publicly admits his organization provides funds for Palestinian terrorist organizations,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_090506e.pdf .

5) “Another limitation placed by the international community on broadcasts emanating from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/almanar_e0306.pdf .

6) “In an unusual public statement, Zakaria Zubeidi, chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin, admits that his organization receives operative assistance from Hezbollah (funds, arms and training), and that the organization exerts much influence on him,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/zakaria_zubeidi_e.pdf .

7) “Hezbollah in Lebanon continues sending Fatah/Tanzim operatives in the West Bank on terrorist missions by means of a link in the Gaza Strip which transmits funds and instructions,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_a1205e.pdf .

8) “A ceremony held on the occasion of Israel's handover of bodies of Hezbollah operatives was accompanied by a belligerent yet apologetic speech given by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_de1105.pdf .

9) “Argentina's General Prosecution issued an official announcement identifying a Lebanese national sent on behalf of the Hezbollah organization as the terrorist responsible for the suicide bombing attack at the AMIA Jewish community center (July 1994),” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/argentina_e.pdf .

10) “Hezbollah attacks along Israel's northern border to cover an attempted abduction of Israeli soldiers,” Bulletin and two updates at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_e1105.pdf ,
http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_eb1105.pdf , and http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah_ec1105.pdf .

11) “Hezbollah has no intention to disarm,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hezbollah0905e.pdf .

12) “Mahmoud Qumati, a Hezbollah senior, praised Al-Qaeda's Katyusha rocket attacks on Aqaba and Eilat and expressed his hope that the organization would step up its attacks against Israeli targets,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/m_q.pdf .

13) “Hezbollah attacks at Har Dov (Shebaa Farms) continue,” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia//ENGLISH/IRAN/PDF/JULY6_05.PDF .

14) “Provocation from Lebanon , Independence Day eve: a 107 mm rocket shell falls on the village of Shelomi (in the western Galilee ),” at http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia//ENGLISH/IRAN/PDF/MAY19_05.PDF .