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Length: 2:27
WOLF BLITZER: Let's bring
in Michael Ware, our reporter; he's joining us on the
phone. Michael, you were there, you eye witnessed a
dramatic development today, a very poignant scene
involving a convoy, a lot of cars trying to flee the
fighting. What happened?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Well,
Wolf, these were civilians being led out by the
Lebanese army from one of the hottest battle zones
we've seen so far in southern Lebanon, a township
known as Marajyoun. They had -- the Lebanese
government had asked the U.N. to broker safe passage
for this convoy to leave the free-fire zone in the
country's south. According to the U.N. and Lebanese
government officials this was agreed to.
After several delays 1,500 civilian vehicles,
according to the Lebanese Red Cross, were led out by
an attachment of the Lebanese army. Around dusk they
reached the safer zones here in southern Lebanon, and
they continued north, but there were many logjams and
traffic jams and choke points, so many of the cars
started breaking off and making their own way. One of
these elements, according to Lebanese security
sources, came up the road that are now sheltering
nearby.
As it was approaching the town of Kasyr (ph), it was
struck by an Israeli air strike of some kind. We now
have Lebanese security sources or security officials
telling us there were four killed and as many as 18
wounded. Among those were seven Lebanese soldiers.
Looking at the scene, it's one of absolute
devastation, Wolf. It's clear that the first strike
was on the lead military vehicles as they approached
the Lebanese army checkpoint.
What then appears to have happened is many of the
civilians in the rear had turned their vehicles
around in a u-turn to speed away from the explosions,
and they had been hit by another air strike. So here
it appears on the ground from what officials are
telling us that some of these civilians who are under
Lebanese army escort during a U.N. brokered safe
passage to escape the fighting have been hit by an
air strike -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We're going to continue to watch this story
with you. Michael Ware reporting from the
scene.