Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Overnight, the IDF sends 20 armored vehicles with helicopter support into Gaza City, clashing with local gunmen, wounding 7 Palestinians (including at least 2 bystanders). In the West Bank, the IDF sends undercover units in a car with Palestinian license plates into Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya to raid a store, arrest a wanted Palestinian; conducts arrest raids, house searches in and around Nablus, in Azun and Jenin town and r.c., and nr. Bethlehem, Hebron. (OCHA, WT 2/13; PCHR 2/14)

A car bomb explodes in Damascus, assassinating Hizballah intelligence and external operations head Imad Mughniyah, injuring 2 others. No group takes responsibility. Hizballah blames Israel, which hails his death and distances itself from the attack but does not explicitly deny involvement. (WP 2/13; NYT, WP, WT 2/14)