Israel rejects expanded ground force

JEREUSALEM, Israel, July 27 (UPI) -- Israel's Security Cabinet decided Thursday not to summon reserve troops to expand ground incursions against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Ministers at the meeting, which was called by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said the country should instead make use of its Air Force to destroy areas populated by Hezbollah gunmen, Ynetnews.com reported.

"A village like Bint Jbeil, whose residents were alerted to evacuate and had left the place, and in which only Hezbollah gunmen remained, should be pounded from the air and with artillery before ground troops enter," said Justice Minister Haim Ramon.

However, some observers disagreed with the decision, Arutz Sheva reported.

"It's time to go out to war for real. For nearly two weeks, the Air Force has attacked and led most of the war ... It's time to draft thousands of reserve soldiers, despite all the complexes and dangers, and flood all of southern Lebanon -- not just the small area of Bint Jbeil and Marun a-Ras," said IDF Col. (ret.) Yehoar Gal.