'Israel paid dearly, but exacted a greater price'

Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz on Thursday praised the successes of the IDF in its recent attacks against Hizbullah. In a press conference with Defense Minister Amir Peretz, he noted that although the IDF had paid a heavy price in the battle in Bint Jbeil on Wednesday, but it had exacted an even greater price. Still, he insisted, it was Israel's goal to minimize its own losses. He reported that the IDF knew of hundreds of Hizbullah operatives who were killed, although he would not name them.