Israel to hit wider range of Lebanon targets-report

JERUSALEM, Aug 7 (Reuters) The Israeli army plans to attack strategic infrastructure targets and symbols of the Lebanese government after Hizbollah rockets killed 15 people in northern Israel, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported Monday.

''We are now in a process of renewed escalation. We will continue hitting everything that moves in Hizbollah, but we will also hit strategic civilian infrastructure,'' a senior General Staff officer told the Haaretz newspaper.

It did not offer any examples of what symbols of the Lebanese government might include.

But other Israeli media played down the chances of a major military escalation ahead of an expected vote this week by the UN Security Council on a resolution calling for an end to offensive operations.

Israel's YNET News said plans presented by the military for bombing southern Lebanon's electricity infrastructure will be frozen for now.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz plan to meet senior defence officials today morning to discuss their options.

Israeli air strikes have already caused extensive damage to Lebanon's infrastructure, including roads and bridges that Israel says Hizbollah uses to transport rockets.

Hizbollah rockets killed 15 people in northern Israel yesterday, including 12 army reservists called up for duty, Israel's highest death toll in a single day since the start of the Lebanon war.

REUTERS PB BS0952