Israel Air Raid Kills 9, Hezbollah Says

Nine people were killed and 25 were wounded when Israeli fighter planes raided bases of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah (Party of God) militia in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah sources said Monday.

According to the militia, many of the casualties in the Sunday evening attack were civilians hit when a school housing displaced families was flattened in the air strikes.

Security sources in the southern port city of Sidon said the attack on Hezbollah strongholds at the Shiite Muslim village of Bouswar was the first since Israel abducted Sheik Abdel Karim Obeid, a leader of Hezbollah, from a southern Lebanon village July 28. Hezbollah is believed to be an umbrella organization for a number of Shiite terrorist groups holding hostages in Lebanon, including Americans, other Westerners and three Israeli soldiers.