Fighting rages in S.Lebanon, 13 Israelis said killed

TYRE, Lebanon, July 26 (Reuters) Hizbollah guerrillas and advancing Israeli troops fought pitched battles at the entrance to a key town in south Lebanon today and Arab television stations said up to 13 Israeli soldiers had been killed.

Lebanese security sources said fierce fighting broke out when an Israeli force controlling a nearby hill tried to advance to the main entrance of Bint Jbeil, a Hizbollah stronghold 4 km (2.5 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Guerrillas ambushed the advancing force and fighting at close quarters ensued. Hizbollah sources said the advancing force was cut off and most of its vehicles were destroyed and soldiers hit.

The Hizbollah sources estimated 35 casualties had been inflicted on the force and said Israeli attempts to evacuate casualties had been foiled. ''Our men can hear the screams of their wounded calling for help,'' one source said.

Al Jazeera Television said 13 soldiers had been killed while Al Arabiya Television put the Israeli death toll at 12.

Such a toll would be the heaviest for Israel's army since it launched an offensive against Hizbollah more than two weeks ago.

Israeli media said up to 25 soldiers had been wounded.

Israeli forces have been battling for days to take over Bint Jbeil since seizing the village of Maroun al-Ras, closer to the border, last week. Hizbollah later said it attacked a concentration of Israeli forces in the outskirts of Maroun al-Ras inflicting more Israeli casualties.

Israeli security sources estimate the number of Hizbollah dead up to yesterday at more than 130. Hizbollah has so far acknowledged losing 28 fighters.

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