Israel approves new strikes against Hizbollah

JERUSALEM, July 14 (Reuters) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's security chiefs approved new targets today against Hizbollah after the Lebanese guerrilla group stepped up its rocket bombardment of northern Israel, Israeli officials said.

The officials said the army would begin hitting the targets, which were not publicly identified, overnight.

David Baker, an Olmert spokesman, said: ''Israel is poised to take whatever steps it deems necessary to protect its citizens in the face of the ongoing barrage of rockets that have been coming over the border into Israel.'' REUTERS SI HS2149