Israel destroys Hezbollah bases

Israel destroyed most of the military positions of Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas along its northern border, in the heaviest fighting since it ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon, an Israeli commander said on Monday. Sunday8217;s rocket and artillery exchanges killed two Hezbollah guerrillas and wounded two Israeli soldiers.

An Israeli newspaper, meanwhile, reported that Iran has equipped Hezbollah with rockets capable of hitting all of Israel8217;s major cities, including Beer Sheva in the south. The Haaretz daily, citing intelligence sources, said the rockets have a range of about 200 km, or double that of weapons previously in Hezbollah8217;s arsenal.

The Israeli commander, Brig Gen Gal Hirsch declined comment on the Haaretz report. However, he said Iranian weapons in the hands of Hezbollah, including mortars and missiles, pose a real threat to Israel. 8216;8216;It8217;s a growing threat,8217;8217; Hirsch said.

Sunday8217;s cross-border fighting began when Hezbollah fired Katyusha rockets from Lebanon at Israel8217;s northern Galilee region, hitting an Air Force base, then attacked Israeli outposts along the border.