Israeli aircraft attack eastern Lebanon-source

Beirut, Aug 19: Israeli aircraft fired several rockets at a Hizbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon early today, a Lebanese security source said.

Warplanes and helicopters attacked at dawn unidentified targets around the village of Bodai, west of the ancient city of Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley. The source said Israeli commandos landed by helicopter in the area for a brief period.

An Israeli army spokesman said the army was checking the report.

Hizbollah television later reported its guerrillas clashed with Israeli commandos near Bodai and forced them to fly out under the cover of air strikes.

The security source said the aircraft bombed roads leading to the village and a hillside to the west.

Such an attack would be the first since a UN truce ended 34 days of fighting between Israeli forces and Hizbollah guerrillas in southern Lebanon.

At least 1,183 people in Lebanon and 157 Israelis were killed in the war that erupted after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.

Reuters