Hizbollah battles Israeli forces in S Lebanon

TYRE, Lebanon, Aug 2 (Reuters) Hizbollah guerrillas battled thousands of Israeli troops on five fronts in south Lebanon today, Lebanese security sources said.

They said Israeli artillery was pounding frontier villages as tank-led forces closed in on Hizbollah-held territories. Guerrillas were firing back mortars, anti-tank rockets and machinegun fire.

Hizbollah said its forces had destroyed four tanks and a bulldozer in the fighting. There was no immediate word from the Israeli army.

The guerrillas killed three Israeli soldiers and wounded 25 in battles in the border village of Aita al-Shaab yesterday. An Israeli general said up to 6,000 troops were taking part in the ground fighting.

Reuters DKB VV1330