Hezbollah shoots down Israeli helicopter
Saturday, 12 August 2006 22:22Hezbollah guerrillas shot down an Israeli helicopter in southern Lebanon today using what they said was a new type of missile.
The Israeli army said it was the first aircraft shot down in Lebanon since its war with Hezbollah erupted on 12 July.
Israeli media said there were casualties but did not say how many.
A Hezbollah statement said the helicopter was shot down in a valley near the southern village of Yater, 6 km (4 miles) north of the border.
The statement said the missile was called a 'Waad'.
Seven Israeli soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, Israeli television stations said.
They said five had been killed in fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas and two had been crushed to death by an Israeli tank.
Despite the UN Security Council vote for a ceasefire plan, Israel's military is pressing on with an expanded ground offensive in south Lebanon.
According to an Israeli army chief, Israel has tripled its number of troops there with Israeli radio reporting that troops have been ordered to seize ground as far as the Litani River, up to 30km from the Israeli border.
