Israel seizes militants in east Lebanon raid-army

JERUSALEM, Aug 2 (Reuters) Israeli commandos dropped from helicopters seized five suspected Hizbollah militants in a night-time raid deep into Lebanon early today, the Israeli army said.

The raid, at a Hizbollah-run hospital in the ancient city of Baalbek, which lies about 60 miles northeast of Beirut, was the deepest Israeli operation into Lebanon since 1994, Israeli media reported.

At least 19 civilians were killed in air strikes in the area that accompanied the raid, Lebanese authorities said.

The Israeli army would not provide any details on how many commandos were involved in the operation or how long it took. But an army spokeswoman said the captured militants were brought back to Israel.

''During the night, (Israeli) forces operated in the town of Baalbek. In the activity, they identified hitting a number of terrorists. A number of terrorists were also arrested and taken to Israel,'' the spokeswoman said.

Lebanese security sources said at least three low-ranking members of Hizbollah, a Shi'ite Islamist group, were among those seized. But Hizbollah denied they belonged to the group.

The spokeswoman said none of the Israeli troops who took part in the operation were injured. ''The soldiers returned home safely,'' she said.

REUTERS DKB PM1249