ZABADANI, Syria (Reuters) – Lebanese refugees gather around a small black and white television set at this Syrian summer resort chanting “God is great” every time Hizbollah’s station announces Israeli casualties.

The decision was made at a meeting of Israel’s Security Cabinet. The Cabinet meeting, which went an hour over its scheduled time, came a day after nine Israeli troops were killed in heated battles with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

HAIFA, Israel (Reuters) – The death of nine Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, Israel’s deadliest day of the war so far, left ordinary citizens all the more determined on Thursday that the army should forge ahead with its 15-day offensive.