News Updates: 7/15/06

1:52 AM: (Last update for the night.) Arutz 7 is reporting that a group of Jews were attacked at in front of a museum exhibit in Moscow by a group of Russian-Orthodox extremists. As they attacked the Jews they screamed, "Kikes killed out Tsar!", in reference to the Nationalistic popular held belief that Jews were the ones who "ritually murdered " Nicholas II. Security guards had to step in and stop the confrontation.

Officials in Haifa said that the city's camps will open tomorrow, as scheduled. Scheduled trips in the north will be rerouted to the center of the country, and parents of the campers are urged to listen to news reports.

12:45 AM: Jpost has reported that today and tonight, IDF and IAF forces have, for the first time since the conflict began, targeted strategic points in Central and Coastal Beirut. They hit and destroyed all the radar stations on the Lebanese coast. They also hit targets in the Beirut seaport.

Jameel is reporting from other news sources that since the start of Wednesday's conflict, that over 500 have been injured as a result of the more than 700 Katyusha rockets and mortars that have been fired into israel.

As a result of the numerous Katyusha rockets into Nahariya, at least 54 people were injured and several homes and apartments were destroyed.

Yesha News released the names of the grand-mother and her grand-son killed as a result of the Katyusha that landed in their home in Meiron, as Shabbat was being brought in: Yehudit Itzkovitz, 58, and Omer Paschov, 7. (*Baruch Dayin Ha'Emet*)

Fox News has been reporting that it is claimed that there are at least 100 Iranian soldiers stationed in Lebanon, helping the Hezbollah terrorists carry out attacks Israel and the IDf. (*Again, while international news services are still reporting that it was Iranian soldiers that helped Hezbollah terrorists yesterday launch a missile attack against an Israeli Naval ship, Israeli news services continue to report that it has been CONFIRMED that it was members of the Lebanese Army that assisted the Hezbollah terrorists in their attacks.*)

12:15 AM: Maariv on-line is reporting that a Katyusha has hit another Druze village, Horfeisch, just moments ago.

IDF forces have reentered northern Gaza.

Russian President Putin has also stated that he now believes that Israel has bigger objectives than just rescuing the two kidnapped soldiers.

11:45 PM: An undisclosed source has said that IDF officials have heard conflicting rumors as to Nasrallah's where-abouts. One rumor states that Nasrallah was trapped in a bunker beneath the Hezbollah headquarters last night and has not been heard from since the IAF bombed the building again this afternoon. Another rumor is being reported by the news that Nasrallah was seen leaving the building. When more information is obtained from either source, we will be reporting it.

11:30 PM: Arutz 7 is reporting that a short time ago, more Katyusha rockets landed in Carmiel and Kiryat Shmona.

The IDF has subtlely admitted that it was taken by surprise when Hezbollah fired an Iranian C-802 missile at a Navy ship. This has led many commentators and analysts to assume that this conflict could go on for some time and that Hezbollah may attempt to fire all of its available rockets and missiles in a "suicide mission" before the IDf eliminates all their bases of operation and infrastructure. This has also led to IDf officials stating that they would not be surprised if Hezbollah attempted to fire their missiles that can reach Tel-Aviv.

Due to Katyusha rockets falling in Toberias, city officials have urged its residents to stay in safe rooms tonight. Because Katyusha rockets have never fallen in Tiberias before, the city and homes are not equipped with bomb shelters. Furthermore, city officials have cancelled all school and camp activities in the area until further notice.

10:31 PM: *Translation Correction for those of you watching Fox News: I've been watching Fox News, and I would like to inform American and internationl readers that they are mistranslating an Israeli Army report. They are stating that the IDF has stated that IRANIAN soldiers helped Hezbollah terrorists fire missiles at the Israeli Navy ship. However, that it is incorrect. The IDF's statement is, as reported here earlier, that LEBANESE soldiers helped Hezbollah terrorists launch IRANIAN made missiles at the Israeli Navy.*)

Jpost is reporting that the IDF is warning Lebanese Army not to fire at Israeli soldiers and targets. Up until now, Israel has refrained from attacked Lebanese Army targets. However, due to last night's attack on an Israeli Navy ship, the IDF is stating that if Lebanon continues to shoot at and/or attack the Israeli Army that the situation would change.

The General Commander of Home-front Command has stated that a rocket warning system will be placed in Haifa to alert residents of incoming Katyushas and other missiles. Residents of Haifa are also being asked to stay in or near shelters for at least the next 24 hours. He is also requesting that unless absolutely necessary, residents of or workers in Haifa should NOT go to work tomorrow.

The Spanish Prime Minster (*Personal opinion: The same on who appeased Islamic terrorists by withdrawing their troops from Iraq after the Madrid Train Bombing.*) conveyed his fears that the fighting in Lebanon could fuel radical Islam as he feels the war in Iraq had done.

9:44 PM: Arutz 7 is reporting that the IDF has moved at least 3 batteries of Patriot anti-ballistic missiles to Haifa. It is the first time in several years that such a deployment has been done.

There is a report that 12 people were injured in the Tzfat rocket attacks over the course of Shabbat.

Jpost reported that about 1,500 Arab-Israelis, including several Arab Knesset members, protested against Israel's offensive in Lebanon today.