Blown bridges
Israel attacks Beirut's airport
Israeli aircraft have fired rockets at the runways of Beirut's international airport in Lebanon, forcing its closure and the diversion of flights.
It follows the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants.
Meanwhile, at least 19 civilians have been killed in fresh Israeli air raids in southern Lebanon.
Israeli jets have pounded targets in southern Lebanon in retaliation for the soldiers' capture. Israel has said it holds Lebanon responsible.
The Beirut airport is Lebanon's only international airport.
It is located in the Lebanese capital's Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs.
Shortly after Israeli shells began falling on the runways, a senior airport official announced the facility was closed and asked scheduled flights to divert to Cyprus.
Bridges destroyed
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said the soldiers' capture was an "act of war", but Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah insisted the two would only be returned via talks.
Why are the Israelis being yanked around by their enemies? A kidnapping has created this insane risk of regional war. Every bomb dropped makes Hamas stronger. Every soldier kidnapped makes Israel react more violently.
Olmert is going to have to deal with Hamas and Hizbollah, and they know it. Because they are going to do low-cost kidnapping which then unleashes even worse responses. There is a limit to this and the pressure can continue. And then, after all the killing, they will still have to agree to a prisoner exchange. He's trying to bully them into giving back the soldiers, but every bomb makes more sympathy for Hamas in the Arab world and places US allies in a bad spot.
It's all part of the Kill a Jew/Kill an Arab for peace program which will not work.
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