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  • Jul 17th, 2006
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At least 45 people were killed and 111 were hurt in Israel's ongoing offensive on Lebanon on Sunday, with five days of Israeli bombardments and air strikes claiming a total of 148 lives.

The tally, compiled by AFP on the basis of reports from officials and hospital staff, also established that more than 355 people have been wounded since the start of the offensive.

Almost all of those killed and injured since the beginning of the Israeli assault on Wednesday were civilians.

A family of five Lebanese Canadians visiting Lebanon on vacation were among those killed when Israeli jets repeatedly bombed the southern village of Aitarun, close to the border with Israel, police said.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said eight Canadians were killed.

Nineteen civilians died in an Israeli attack on a building housing a military office and transmitter in the southern port town of Tyre, hospital sources said. They had been seeking shelter after fleeing Israeli raids on their home villages.

Israel has pressed on with its attacks despite saying it regretted causing civilian casualties.

It has blamed Hizbullah for the collateral deaths and injuries, stressing that the Lebanese militia was operating from residential areas.

Twenty-four Israelis have been killed in the violence - 12 civilians who have died in Hezbollah rocket attacks, and 12 servicemen.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2006


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