JERUSALEM - Nineteen soldiers were killed and five others were missing and
feared dead as Israeli forces thrust deep into south Lebanon, the army said
Sunday, making it the highest one-day toll for the Jewish state since the war
against Hezbollah erupted.
The soldiers were killed in a series of battles Saturday as helicopters
landed commandos near the Litani River and columns of armor and infantry pushed
north to meet them. The deaths brought to more than 100 the number of Israeli
troops killed so far.
One of the transport helicopters was shot down by Hezbollah guerillas and its
five-man crew was missing and feared dead, the army said.
Israel launched its expanded offensive early Saturday in a bid to seize
territory and capture Hezbollah strongholds before the onset of a U.N.-imposed
cease-fire.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that after talking to Prime Ministers
Fuad Saniora of Lebanon and Ehud Olmert of Israel, it was agreed the cease-fire
will take effect Monday morning.
"I am happy to announce that the two leaders have agreed that the cessation
of hostilities and the end of the fighting will enter into force on 14 August,
at 0500 hours GMT," the statement said.
Israel and Lebanon are three hours ahead of GMT.
Israel's Cabinet was to meet later Sunday and expected to accept the U.N.
resolution.
Several soldiers were killed when hit by anti-tank missiles and others in
fierce gunbattles with the guerillas. Two more were killed when a tank
accidentally ran over them, the army said, adding that more than 50 Hezbollah
fighters were killed. Israel Radio reported that some 100 soldiers were injured
in the clashes.
The helicopter was shot down in the Maryamein valley near the village of
Yater. It was Israel's first loss of a helicopter in Lebanon in the monthlong
conflict. Two helicopters collided and crashed and a third crashed separately in
northern Israel early on in the fighting.
Four hours after the downing of the aircraft, Hezbollah reported a gunbattle
was still raging as Israeli troops were trying to retrieve the casualties from
the burning wreckage, according to a statement issued by the group.
The claim, carried on Hezbollah's al-Manar TV, said the helicopter was
brought down by a new missile, the "Waad" (Arabic for Promise) in the guerrilla
arsenal.