Israel orders army to halt offensive against Hezbollah
Dated 14/8/2006
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Israel ordered its army to halt its offensive against Lebanese-based Hezbollah guerrillas in as a U.N.-imposed ceasefire went into effect after 34 days of warfare that devastated much of south Lebanon and left northern Israeli in shambles.
Israeli warplanes struck a Hezbollah stonghold in eastern Lebanon and a Palestinian refugee camp, killing one person, hours before the truce took effect, and Israeli artillery pounded targets across the border through the night.
An army spokesman said the military was told not to initiate any action after 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) but "the forces will do everything to prevent being hit."
Isaac Herzog, a senior minister in the Israeli Cabinet, said it was unlikely all fighting would be silenced immediately.
"Experience teaches us that after that a process begins of phased relaxation," in the fighting, he said.
Air and sea blockade to continue
The Israeli army will continue to enforce an air and sea blockade on Lebanon despite a ceasefire that took effect on Monday, a military official said.
The embargo will remain in place until there is a system in place to oversee and prevent arms from reaching Hezbollah guerrillas, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to be quoted by the media.