Condoleeza Rice has made a surprise visit to Beirut, while in the background the Israeli forces go full-bore against Hezbollah in South Lebanon. Fierce battle at the Hezbollah “capital”, Bint Jbel, started overnight.

Details on the fighting from this report at Arutz Sheva:

The battle for Bint Jbel, which is considered the capital of Hizbullah, and nearby villages began last night. Bint Jbel lies 12 kilometers due north of Israel’s Mt. Meron.

Nine soldiers were reported lightly wounded in the course of the fighting early this morning, apparently by a bomb or grenade. In addition, the forces met up with fierce Hizbullah fire, and the Israel Air Force is covering the ground forces. Several terrorists have been killed, and two have been taken captive.

The IDF had just barely completed taking over another Hizbullah stronghold, Marun a-Ras, which lies five kilometers southeast of Bint Jbel. Seven soldiers were killed in three days of battles in Marun a-Ras. Based on lessons learned there, the current thorough IDF advance is slower than last week’s offensive

Check this article as well, US gives Irael the green light against Hezbollah for two weeks, and we are sending more armaments, including bunker-busters. This is also why Condoleeza Rice changed original Itenerary from Egypt to Beirut. For coverage of Condi’s visit and mission to get the Lebanese government to assert Sovereignty, see Captain’s Quarters.

The Bush Administration has given Israel approximately two weeks to continue attacks on the Hizbullah terrorist infrastructure before negotiations should begin, according to the London Guardian.

The Administration accepted without debate a decision to rush precision bombs to Israel, despite the chances that Arab countries will compare American arms shipments to Israel to Iran’s arming of Hizbullah, The New York Times reported.

The shipment of bombs is part of an arms sales deal approved last year, but the special request for laser-guided bombs indicates that the IDF wants to target many more terrorist sites in Lebanon. Last year’s agreement allows Israel to buy “bunker buster” weapons that can penetrate underground terrorist command centers. Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah is believed to be operating from underground

World Net Daily reports on the bodies of Iranian Republican Guardsmen being taken back to Iran via Syria, demonstrating direct involvement by Iran and Amadinejad. Article here. This ups the conflict ante a bit, as this is a direct attack on Israel by Iran.

JERUSALEM – The bodies of Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldiers who were killed by the Israeli army in Lebanon have been transported to Syria and flown to Tehran, senior Lebanese political sources told WorldNetDaily.

The information was confirmed by Israeli and Egyptian security officials. It follows scores of reports the past few days Iranian soldiers have been aiding Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon in their attacks against Israel, including help with the firing of rockets into Israeli population centers.

For Afghanistan and Iraq here’s the round-up from the CENTAF airpower summary from over the weekend:

July 23
In Afghanistan July 22, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The A-10s conducted strafing passes, expending cannon rounds and the B-1 expended a Guided Bomb Unit-38 on the extremists’ positions, ending the engagement.

A B-1 provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal’eh. The B-1 expended GBU-31s and GBU-38s on the extremists’ locations, ending the engagement.

A-10s also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Asadabad.

Additionally, eight U.S., French and Royal Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Afghanistan.

In Iraq, F-16 Fighting Falcons and Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornadoes provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Al Iskandariyah.

F-16s also provided close-air support to troops in contact with anti-Iraqi forces near Ar Ramadi.

Additionally, 12 Air Force, Navy and Royal Air Force ISR aircraft flew missions in support of operations in Iraq. United States Air Force fighter aircraft performed in non-traditional ISR roles with their electro-optical and infrared sensors.

In total, coalition aircraft flew 47 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities.

Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs provided intra-theater heavy airlift support, helping sustain operations throughout Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. They flew 160 airlift sorties, delivered 310 tons of cargo and transported 3,250 passengers. This included more than 16,240 pounds of troop resupply airdropped in central and eastern Afghanistan. In addition on July 22, a theater C-5 Galaxy flew one mission, transporting more than 110,000 pounds of equipment and supplies in support of U.S. Central Command’s operations for Americans departing Lebanon.

Coalition C-130 crews from Canada and Korea flew in support of either OIF or OEF.

On July 21, U.S., French and Royal Air Force tankers flew 40 sorties and off-loaded almost 2.4 million pounds of fuel.

July 22
In Afghanistan July 21, an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle conducted a precision strike against Taliban extremists near Musah Qal’eh. The Predator expended a Hellfire missile on the enemy’s position, ending the engagement.

A-10s, a Predator UAV and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for coalition troops taking sniper and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The A-10s expended a GBU-12 and conducted strafing passes at the sniper and other extremists’ locations, ending the engagement. A B-1 also provided close-air support for coalition troops near Now Zad.

A B-1 provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1 expended a GBU-31 on the extremists’ location, ending the engagement. That same B-1 also provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Lashkar Gar. The B-1B expended GBU-31s on the extremists’ location, ending the engagement.

A-10s provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Qalat.

Please Stop by Michelle Malkins to see the video of Chief Hezbollah thug Nasrullah explaining how the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers was set up.

The Australian Daily Telegraph reports on Indonesian sentencing for two men who aided Islamofascist Noordin Mohammed Top of Jemah Islamiyah who is wanted for several deadly bombings in Indonesia.

The Malaysian fugitive is said to have been a key member of the regional militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and is wanted for his alleged involvement in a series of deadly bombings in Indonesia.

South Jakarta district court jailed 39-year-old Faturrahman, alias Fat, to three-and-a-half years for helping to hide Noordin at his home in central Java’s Pekalongan in September 2004.

Noordin, who was introduced to Faturrahman as Tolhah or Toha, used the defendant’s home at least once to meet with others and stayed overnight on one occasion, Judge Yosef Wisnu Sigit said.

“This is the will of God,” Faturrahman, who heads a residential administrative ward in Pekalongan and has a cloth printing business, said after the verdict was read.

In a separate trial at the same court, Judge Wahjono jailed Kamal Yulianto, 25, for three years on a similar charge.