Syria Rattles Sabres Over Mideast Fighting

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Warning of what he called regional challenges, Syria's leader urged his army to intensify its training and "raise readiness" on Monday.

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Lebanon's neighbor has been accused by President George W. Bush and others of supporting the Hezbollah militants now battling Israel.

In a statement, Syrian President Bashar Assad said the effort spent training now will "spare a drop of blood when the time comes." He didn't elaborate.

Travelers from Syria said some military reservists are being called up, a sign of concern that the fighting could cross the border.

Key Senator: End 'Madness'

Breaking with Bush, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said Monday that Israel's pounding of Lebanon was hurting America's image in the Middle East.

"The sickening slaughter on both sides must end now," Hagel said. "This madness must stop."

Bush renewed his call for a sustainable cease-fire in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel on Monday.

In comments delivered during a visit to South Florida, Bush also linked the current violence to what he called the "status quo on the Middle East," and said the region's troubled history played a role in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may be close to an agreement on a sustainable cease-fire, Bush said. That agreement would be backed by a United Nations resolution, ensure that Lebanon's democratically elected government remains in power, require that Iran cease its suppport of Hezbollah, and force Syria to recognize the legitimacy of the Lebanese government, Bush said.

Israel's Olmert Refuses Cease-Fire

Israel's prime minister said Monday he is sorry for the deaths of dozens of innocents -- including children -- killed in an airstrike at Qana, Lebanon, over the weekend, but Ehud Olmert also said Israel is "determined to succeed" against Lebanese guerrillas and there will be no cease-fire.

Israeli forces will keep fighting in the air, from the sea and on the ground to eradicate the threat from Hezbollah, Olmert said. His remarks come after Israel abandoned a brief halt in airstrikes over an attack on an Israeli tank. Israeli officials said they regret that a second airstrike killed a Lebanese soldier, but vowed to protect ground forces.

Meanwhile, Israeli jets targeted the main crossing between Lebanon and Syria for the third time in as many days. Israel said it hit a truck bringing weapons into Lebanon. Lebanon said the strike hit near a vehicle carrying relief supplies.

Attacks Resume

The Israeli air force carried out strikes Monday in southern Lebanon despite an agreement to halt raids for 48 hours after about 60 Lebanese civilians were killed in an Israeli bombing, the Israeli army said.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah attacked one of its tanks in southern Lebanon on Monday, wounding three soldiers. Israeli warplanes then fired into open areas near the village of Taybeh to protect Israeli ground forces.

Israel's defense minister made clear in a speech to parliament that Israel has plans to expand its operation in Lebanon.

Israel Radio reported Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel but no casualties were reported.

The cessation of Israeli airstrikes came after nearly 60 civilians were killed in an Israeli bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana on Sunday.

Rice Heads Home

Heading home from the Middle East Monday, Rice said there's still "a lot of work" ahead before there's a cease-fire that will stick.

When asked if the Qana strike made negotiations more difficult, Rice answered, "Of course."

Rice said it was wrong to imply that the strike was somehow planned "to make the diplomacy more difficult." She called it a "tragic incident" that occurred during a military operation.

Syrian Minister Blames U.S.

Bouthaina Shaaban, the Syrian minister for expatriates, blamed the United States and United Nations for the Qana attacks.

The minister, along with Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian children, held a demonstration outside U.N. headquarters in Damascus on Sunday to protest the Israeli airstrike.

They held banners accusing Israel and the United States of targeting civilians, and shouted slogans supporting Hezbollah. One child said the attack "broke our hearts as Arabs."

Shaaban said Israel knows it's firing missiles where families are. She said she couldn't believe the carnage.

Meanwhile, thousands of civilians trapped in south Lebanon's war zone for three weeks made an exodus for the north, taking advantage of Israel's pause in airstrikes.

Expanding Ground Operation

Israel's defense minister said that despite a 48-hour halt in airstrikes, Israel will "expand and strengthen" its attack on Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Israel's top ministers will discuss expanding the army's ground operation at a meeting later Monday. Senior defense officials said thousands of reserve soldiers are training for the possibility that they will be sent into Lebanon to participate in the 20-day-old battle.

Another top Israeli official said the 48-hour suspension doesn't mean the war is over yet.

Justice Minister Haim Ramon said he's convinced the war won't be finished until it's clear Hezbollah has no more ability to attack Israel.

Security officials said Israeli warplanes struck two suspected guerrilla positions in eastern Lebanon just before the suspension took effect.

Iraq's V.P.: Israel Carrying Out 'Massacres'

Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi has accused Israel of carrying out "massacres" in Lebanon.

It's the strongest criticism of the Jewish state by a top official of the U.S.-backed Iraqi government.

Abdul-Mahdi singled out the airstrike that killed dozens of Lebanese civilians.

Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also demanded an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon, warning the Muslim world will "not forgive" nations that stand in the way of a stop to the fighting.