2006年VOA标准英语-Hezbollah Rockets Kill 8 Israelis; Israel Steps

By Jim Teeple
Jerusalem
03 August 2006

A barrage¹ of more than 100 rockets fired by Hezbollah militants² has killed at least eight Israelis. Military authorities say they plan to expand what they intend to be a security zone in Lebanon to at least 15 kilometers and perhaps further.  A new report from the U.S. based Human Rights Watch says Israeli air strikes have indiscriminately struck Lebanese civilians⁴.

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Israeli policemen examine rocket fired by Hezbollah guerrillas that killed three Israeli Arabs in northern town of Maalot, Aug. 3, 2006
  
  
The deaths from the Hezbollah rockets came in and around the cities of Acre and Maalot, which were struck by more than 100 rockets. At least 27 Israelis have been killed by Hezbollah rockets since fighting began more than three weeks ago.

Hezbollah rockets continue to strike northern Israel, despite the presence of about 10,000 Israeli ground troops inside Lebanon.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel is close to achieving its objective of carving⁵ out a security zone along the Lebanese border. Israeli military authorities say they plan to expand the security zone to about 15 kilometers inside Lebanon, saying they already control about 20 Lebanese villages located six-to-seven kilometers inside the country. 

An Israeli tank advances during an incursion in southern Lebanon near the village of Aitrun   
  
A military spokesman says expanding Israel's presence in Lebanon will require about 2,000 more troops. Israeli Defense⁶ Forces Chief of Staff, Dan Halutz says his forces will stay in Lebanon as long as necessary.

"We are going to provide our government the flexibility⁷ to select its decision, either to stay or withdraw," he said.

In an interview with an Italian newspaper, Prime Minister Olmert said he believed the United Nations will approve a cease-fire next week.

 
Tony Blair speaks at monthly news conference at Downing Street, London, Aug. 3, 2006
Mr. Olmert's optimism was echoed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. 
  
"The United States, the United Kingdom, France and others have been working very hard to get agreement on a United Nations resolution," he said. "I am now hopeful we will have such a resolution down very shortly and agreed within the next few days. The purpose of that will be to bring about an immediate⁸ ceasefire and then put in place the conditions for the international force to come in support of the Lebanese government so that we get the underlying⁹ issue and problems dealt with."

Differences between the United States and France over the timing¹⁰ of a cease-fire, and the introduction of international peacekeepers to Lebanon, has led to a postponement¹¹ of discussions on the issue at the United Nations.

Israel's military has released the results of an investigation¹² that says their air-strike against the Lebanese town of Qana on Sunday was a mistake. The New York-based organization, Human Rights Watch says during its current military campaign in Lebanon, Israel has failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants.

Speaking to journalists, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he believes Israel's policy towards civilian³ casualties in Lebanon is much different than that of Hezbollah's.

"Every time a civilian is killed by an Israeli we consider it a failure and we regret it very much because it has never been our strategy and we do not want to achieve that," said Mr. Olmert. "Every time an Israeli civilian is killed, it is considered by Hezbollah to be a victory." 

Israeli strike hits outskirts¹³ of Tyre in southern Lebanon, Aug. 3, 2006   
  
Israel has also stepped up air strikes in Lebanon, hitting targets in southern Beirut as well as a number of sites in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, and on roads near the Syrian border.

Israel dropped leaflets in Beirut warning residents of three Shiite neighborhoods to leave - a sign the neighborhoods could be hit by air strikes.

1 barrage   

n.火力网，弹幕

参考例句：

• The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。
• The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

6 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

7 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

8 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

9 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

10 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

11 postponement   

n.推迟

参考例句：

• He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
• Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。

12 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

13 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。