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ANDERSON COOPER: There was a lot of activity in Beirut today as well, and also a lot to talk about what happened in the Bekaa Valley, very close to the Syrian border, that dramatic nighttime raid that we talked about last night on this program. We have learned new details about exactly what Israeli commandos were looking for and exactly what happened when they got there.

CNN's Michael Ware has more -- Michael.

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, yes, we traveled today to what is essentially the heart of Hezbollah's presence here, into the Bekaa Valley, its stronghold.

We went to the scene of this Israeli attack, the most daring operation of the war so far, when they drove 70 miles into Lebanon to strike what they call a logistics base. Anderson, this is what we found.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARE (voice-over): The newest front in Israel's ground war. The Israeli Defense Forces released video of their raid on Hezbollah far to the north of the battle lines, this time, with Israeli boots on the ground, 70 miles from their own border, sweeping in at night from the air, a classic Israeli commando raid -- the target, a hospital in the town of Baalbeck, an E.R. clinic.

But to Israel's generals, it's much more than that, claiming they had intelligence that it was a Hezbollah logistics base, a possible safe house for a senior leader, and perhaps where two captive Israeli soldiers were treated.

The hospital sits here in the Bekaa Valley, a narrow basin stretching along Lebanon's eastern border. It's Hezbollah country, and with Syria just 12 miles away, over these mountains riddled with smuggling routes, western intelligence says it's a staging base and gateway for men and weapons.

The deep-strike raid was a covert success -- the sound of helicopters descending shortly before 11:00 at night the only alert. Hospital staff say this male nurse was there -- his identity and his story, like all others, impossible to verify.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The troops came onto the ground and started shooting at us. While we were trying to run away, I got shot.

WARE (on camera): Locals say Israeli commandos dropped onto the roof of the hospital, from where they entered the building and began their search, while as many as 10 helicopters circled overhead. There's clear signs of the firefight, with shell casings scattered about the car park and fresh bullet holes in the walls of this compound and the service station.

A brushfire was also started during the engagement. And you can see the shell of two burned-out vehicles. Behind them, a four-story building that also bears the scars of the battle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The terrorists firing here, this is their headquarters, the entrance to the hospital.

WARE: In all, Lebanese authorities say, as many as 16 people were killed. In Baalbeck, residents claim, the dead were civilians, cut down in airstrikes as the battle unfolded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There were seven martyrs, a whole family -- most of them were children -- and a pregnant woman. One of them was a 3-year-old.

WARE: The Israeli military says it killed 10 people, all Hezbollah fighters. Israel says its videotape shows weapons and other evidence of a stronghold. It says it seized five men and took them back to Israel. Hezbollah's fighters, as the Israelis claim, or just men in the wrong place at the wrong time?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: An amazingly daring raid that no doubt will have a -- a psychological impact on a lot of people in the battlefield.

Michael, what about this latest shelling inside -- or in the areas around south Beirut? We haven't seen shelling like that in quite some time. What did you hear?

WARE: Yes, well, it has been a few days, Anderson. And it has been quite a respite.

But what we saw tonight is the recommencement of the Israeli Defense Forces' air campaign against Hezbollah targets in the capital, Beirut. Just a couple of hours ago, while we were here in this position, there was a deafening explosion, as a massive piece of ordnance was dropped on a target in the south of the capital.

Following that, there were three more explosions. In the hours since, it has been quiet. There has been the constant buzzing of jets. But one becomes accustomed to that here in Beirut -- Anderson.

COOPER: Certainly do.

Michael Ware, appreciate that.

Michael talked about that buzzing of jets. And, also, what we have been hearing a lot today around this area --


COOPER: And as you can tell, the guns here have really started to open up. These American-made M-109s, just starting to lob some shells from the position that we're in right now, very close to the border. It's the first time in the last several hours the guns around here have started to fire.

Michael Ware in Beirut, there has been -- there have been more air strikes now in Beirut. What are the targets? And we're also seeing live pictures of actually smoke over Beirut. Where did they hit?

WARE: Well, that's still unclear, Anderson. Dawn is only just now rising, as you would know, further south. It's impossible to say what the Israelis have been targeting.

What we do know, however, is that it's in the south. This is in the traditional Hezbollah stronghold. So most likely, these are going to be targets of opportunity.

Given that they've already devastated much of that area, and they've hit what is known of the Hezbollah physical infrastructure -- its offices, its places of business, where it operates from -- what they'll be looking for now, I suspect, is any kind of movements, any kind of details on arsenals. They'll be looking for intelligence to be able to hit individuals or hit specific places -- Anderson.


COOPER: John King, John Roberts, Michael Ware, we'll check back with you throughout the course of these two hours.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: They're simply not saying. They're holding that very close to the vest.

But we know that the fighting is intense. We have seen it for ourselves. A lot to talk about tonight with our correspondents, John Roberts who's along this border, Michael Ware who's in Beirut, and John King who's covering diplomatic efforts in Washington.

We begin with the fighting and John Roberts.

COOPER: Also want to talk about what happened along the Syrian border in the Bekaa Valley, that daring nighttime raid by Israeli commandos, they say seizing what they said were five militants, killing what they said were 10 Hezbollah fighters.

A lot to talk about. CNN's Michael Ware is covering the action from Beirut.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The newest front in Israel's ground war. The Israeli Defense Forces released video of their raid on Hezbollah far to the north of the battle lines. This time, with Israeli boots on the ground, 70 miles from their own border, swooping in at night from the air, a classic Israeli commando raid.

The target, a hospital in the town of Baalbeck. An E.R. clinic. But to Israel's generals, it's much more than that, claiming they had intelligence that it was a Hezbollah logistics base, a possible safe house for a senior leader, and perhaps where two captive Israeli soldiers were treated.

The hospital sits here in the Bekaa Valley. A narrow basin stretching along Lebanon's eastern border. It's Hezbollah country. And with Syria just 12 miles away, over these mountains riddled with smuggling routes. Western intelligence says it's a staging base and gateway for men and weapons. The deep strike raid was a covert success. The sound of helicopters descending shortly before 11:00 at night, the only alert.

Hospital staff say this male nurse was there. His identity and his story, like all others', impossible to verify.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The troops came onto the ground and started shooting at us. While we were trying to run away, I got shot.

WARE: Locals say Israeli commandos dropped onto the roof of the hospital from where they entered the building and began their search, while as many as 10 helicopters circled overhead.

(On camera): There's clear signs of the fire fight with shell casings scattered about the car park and fresh bullet holes in the walls of this compound and this service station. A brush fire was also started during the engagement. And you can see the shell of two burned-out vehicles. Behind them, a four-story building that also bears the scars of the battle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): As the terrorists are firing here, this is the headquarters. The entrance to the hospital.

WARE (voice-over): In all, Lebanese authorities say as many as 16 people were killed. In Baalbeck, residents claim the dead were civilians, cut down in air strikes as the battle unfolded.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There were seven martyrs, a whole family. Most of them were children, and a pregnant woman. One of them was a 3-year-old.

WARE: The Israeli military says it killed 10 people, all Hezbollah fighters. Israel says its videotape shows weapons and other evidence of a stronghold. It says it seized five men and took them back to Israel. Hezbollah's fighters, as the Israelis claim? Or just men in the wrong place at the wrong time?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: That of course is the question. Michael Ware joins us now from Beirut. John Roberts joins us again from along the border here in Israel. And John King joins us from Washington. A lot to talk about with our top correspondents.

Michael Ware, let's begin with you. Dawn now in Beirut. There was shelling over the last several hours. What do we know about it?

WARE (on camera): Well, what we know is that the Israeli air campaign has recommenced, Anderson. We've had a respite for several days now. And we saw the partial suspension of air activity, certainly in the south, for 48 hours.

Even though aid convoys were not able to get in as was hoped, it was still something of a breather.

However, early this morning, just a few hours ago, we saw it come back with vigor. We had a massive explosion, soon followed by three more in the Hezbollah-dominated suburbs of southern Beirut -- Anderson.

COOPER: Michael, does anyone know where Hassan Nasrallah is right now?

WARE: Look, there's a lot of speculation about that, Anderson. And it's quite a parlor game. There's been a lot written about this in some of the Arab media.

There's a lot of people who are betting that he's actually out of the country. And in fact, that makes the most sense. There's plenty of places he can go. There's been some speculation that he's in Syria. Further speculation that he's in the Iranian embassy, either here or in Damascus. And even more speculation that he's in Iran itself.

So given the nature of this insurgency, they will be looking to protect Hassan Nasrallah. They will have him in one of the places that the Israelis would least expect to find him. It would not be in a known haunt. So, to get him out of the country would potentially make a lot of sense.

COOPER: Hassan Nasrallah, obviously a major target for Israeli forces. And given that raid in Baalbeck, they've certainly shown they're able to snatch people that at least they believe are Hezbollah militants.


COOPER: No doubt about that.

John Roberts, Thanks.

John King and Michael Ware, as well. Stay safe.