Israel airlifts troops into southern Lebanon

JERUSALEM, Aug 12 (Reuters) Israeli helicopters today airlifted hundreds of soldiers into southern Lebanon as part of its expanded operation against Hizbollah guerrillas in the northern neighbour, the Israeli army said.

''There has been a large-scale helicopter operation which involved flying in hundreds of fighters into south Lebanon as part of a widening of the operation,'' a spokeswoman said.

The move came less than a day after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for a ''full cessation of hostilities'' between Israel and Hizbollah.

REUTERS AB RAI2109