Israel names new general for Lebanon, Syria fronts

JERUSALEM, Sep 27 (Reuters) Israel appointed a new military commander for its Lebanese and Syrian fronts today, replacing a general who resigned amid charges of incompetence in waging the war against Hizbollah.

The Defence Ministry named Major-General Gadi Eizenkot, a former military operations chief, as head of the Northern Command, a role that has been under intense scrutiny since an August 14 truce ended Israel's 34-day offensive in Lebanon.

Mr Eizenkot replaces Major-General Udi Adam, who resigned on September 13 complaining about the appointment, at the height of the fighting, of another general to supervise him.

The war began when Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers and killing eight in a July 12 cross-border raid, provoking massive Israeli retaliation. Some 1,200 people in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers, died.

Hizbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets into Israel, embarrassing West Asia's most powerful military. Some Israelis feared the fighting could spread to arch-foe Syria, which, along with Iran, back the Shi'ite guerrilla group.

REUTERS BDP KP2321