Israeli Forces Making Steady Progress

Israel aims to clear a 15-square-mile, Shiite-dominated region that is the center of Hezbollah operations. One could claim Israeli operations have thus far "failed" to slow Hezbollah rocket fire, but the truth may be that Israel is allowing that fire as long as it opens the way for a fruitful response. Hezbollah fires rockets, exposing their positions. Israeli drones and aircraft, and counter-battery radars on the ground, track the firings, moving immediately to destroy the long-range launchers. Israeli military officials say they believe they have killed about 100 Hezbollah fighters, though U.S. intelligence watchers say that many more are believed to have died in counter-battery attacks and attacks on bunkers and other encampments.