U.S. says Israel has agreed to suspend air strikes for 48 hours after deadly strike on Qana
{{date|July 31, 2006}}
{{2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict}}
After one of its raids killed at least 56 civilians, Israel agreed on Monday to suspend its aerial activities in south Lebanon for 48 hours. The announcement came after extended meetings between Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister.

Adam Ereli, a US state department spokesman in Jerusalem, said "Israel has agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity in south Lebanon to investigate today's tragic incident in Qana,"

The aerial ceasefire began after midnight on Sunday but fighting on the ground continues as Israeli forces aim to create a 'security zone' inside Lebanon along the Israeli border. Lebanon has no air force nor air defences.

Gadi Eisenkaut, army operations chief General, said "By Wednesday we are going to establish a two-kilometer (one-mile) wide 'security zone' in which there will be no infrastructure or sign of Hezbollah's presence" 

==Related news==
*{{wikinews|title=Red Cross claim more than 50 civilians killed by Israeli airstrike, Qana|date=July 30, 2006}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0B4FB3A7-0CB2-4A79-BBB2-E352F776888F.htm
|title=Israel halts bombing for 48 hours
|author=
|pub= Al Jazeera
|date=July 31, 2006}}

[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Lebanon]]
[[Category:Israel]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Condoleezza Rice]]
[[Category:Ehud Olmert]]

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[[es:Israel incumple acuerdo de suspensión de bombardeos]]
[[de:Israel erklärte 48-stündige Feuerpause]]
After one of its raids killed at least 56 civilians, Israel agreed on Monday to suspend its aerial activities in south Lebanon for 48 hours. The announcement came after extended meetings between Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister.

Adam Ereli, a US state department spokesman in Jerusalem, said "Israel has agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity in south Lebanon to investigate today's tragic incident in Qana,"

The aerial ceasefire began after midnight on Sunday but fighting on the ground continues as Israeli forces aim to create a 'security zone' inside Lebanon along the Israeli border. Lebanon has no air force nor air defences.

Gadi Eisenkaut, army operations chief General, said "By Wednesday we are going to establish a two-kilometer (one-mile) wide 'security zone' in which there will be no infrastructure or sign of Hezbollah's presence"
Politics and conflicts Lebanon Israel Middle East United States North America Condoleezza Rice Ehud Olmert