HEZBOLLAH SHOOTS DOWN ISRAELI HELICOPTER

August 12, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah shot down an Israeli military helicopter in southern Lebanon on Saturday, and Israeli security officials said casualties were reported.

The aircraft was shot down in the Maryamein valley near the village of Yater, and other helicopters scrambled to the area to try to rescue the crew, Hezbollah said in a report on its Al-Manar TV station.

It marked the first time an Israeli helicopter was shot down by Hezbollah guerrillas since the conflict began on July 12. Two helicopters collided and crashed and a third crashed separately in northern Israel early in the fighting.

The Islamic militant group said the helicopter was brought down by a new missile, the "Waad" (Arabic for Promise), in its arsenal.

The Israeli security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the attack with reporters, confirmed the helicopter was shot down and said casualties were reported.

The Israeli military declined comment.

The area had seen heavy ground combat Saturday during which hundreds of Israeli troops were airlifted to positions deep inside southern Lebanon and tanks punched across terrain to grab more territory before an expected cessation of hostilities Monday morning.

Hezbollah guerrillas crippled an Israeli warship with a missile on July 15.

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