Israel confirms new Lebanon incursion under way

JERUSALEM, July 30 (Reuters) Israel's military confirmed that tanks and troops had rolled into a new section of southern Lebanon today, describing it as the latest incursion aimed at flushing out Hizbollah guerrillas along the frontier.

Under cover of artillery fire and air strikes, Israeli forces crossed the border at Metula, apparently headed toward the Lebanese town of Khiam. Troops were battling Hizbollah guerrillas, Israeli and Lebanese security sources said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman likened the operation to two other major incursions launched as part of an offensive raging since Hizbollah killed eight soldiers and abducted another two in a July 12 cross-border raid.

Israeli troops have fought fierce battles in the village of Maroun al-Ras and the town of Bint Jbeil, key Hizbollah strongholds inside southern Lebanon.

''As with previous operations, we are moving across the border into several areas where Hizbollah has bases, especially areas from which it is firing rockets into Israel,'' the spokeswoman said when asked about the incursion from Metula.

She said at least one soldier was wounded in the new fighting.

Israel Radio said troops fired on several Hizbollah squads who tried to ambush them, causing casualties.

REUTERS BDP RAI1312