Evidently the attack was a cover ruse to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Two IDF soldiers engaged in a routine Hummer patrol on the Israeli side close to the international border were kidnapped by Hezbollah during the attack. Within an hour Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV announced the kidnap, and within an hour later the Israel Defense Forces spokesman acknowledged the strong probability that a kidnap had occurred.

At this moment, Hezbollah mortars are falling on Israeli kibbutzim and moshavim. IDF jets have blown up a bridge in south Lebanon in an attempt to slow down the terrorists from fleeing deeper into Lebanon, and are shelling Hezbollah positions along the border in that area.

Victory celebrations are breaking out at this moment in towns hroughout south Lebanon over the kidna pping. This kidnapping comes in the wake of the kidnapping of Corporal Gilad Shalit two weeks ago, also within Israel's internationally recognized borders beside the Gaza Strip. That kidnapping prompted a re-entry of IDF forces into Gaza, as well as shelling of Kassam rocket launchers and targeted assassinations of Hamas terrorists and their commanders. Hezbollah receives its military equipment and encouragement from Iran, and all weapons flow to Hezbollah through Syria. Both countries are involved in strategic advice, influence and support for Hezbollah. Hamas is headquartered in Damascus and also receives much military help from Iran, smuggled in through Egypt. The IDF will probably respond by striking in three areas:

1. There are 13,000 long-range Hezbollah rockets on the border with Israel. These can reach Haifa, Tiberias and Hadera with fair accuracy. Chances are that the upset of the military status quo will force Israel to at least weaken and at most destroy Hezbollah's missile ability to hurt Israel. It is probable that a military incursion into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure is in the offing.

2. It is highly likely that Lebanon will pay a price for not controlling its own sovereign territory and for allowing it to be used to attack Israel, a country which has pulled back to the internationally recognized border years ago. This might involve bombing of Lebanese infrastructure, power stations, etc.

3. It is pretty likely that Syria's support for Hezbollah and Hamas means that there may be IDF strikes into Syria generally, and on Damascus specifically.