ARABS-ISRAEL - Aug 2 - Israel Pushes Deeper Into Lebanon.

As Israel launches its largest ground offensive in Lebanon, PM Ehud Olmert vows to keep up the military campaign against Hizbullah until an international peacekeeping force was deployed. His comments follow approval by the security cabinet to expand the ground operation, rejecting international pressure for an immediate ceasefire. Earlier on Aug 2, Olmert told Reuters that he believed Israel's campaign had "entirely destroyed" the Hizbullah infrastructure, adding: I think Hizbullah has been disarmed by the military operation of Israel to a large degree". However, his assertions were later undermined when several towns across northern Israel were hit by a fresh wave of rocket attacks after a two-day lull. In a major operation in the eastern Bekaa valley deep inside Lebanon, Israeli forces targeted Hizbullah positions in the ancient city of Baalbek with warplanes and helicopters. Lebanese security officials said the operation began with at least five rapid air strikes three hours before Israel was due to end a 48-hour suspension of aerial bombardments. Israeli commandos captured at least three Hizbullah militants according to reports from both sides of the conflict. All members of the Israeli force were said to have returned safely to base after an operation to seize the wanted men at a hospital in Baalbek, Hizbullah's stronghold in eastern Lebanon. Israeli aircraft bombed targets in the area as flares lit up the night sky, according to Lebanese reports. It was Israel's deepest raid inside Lebanon since the three-week war began. Ground fighting intensified on Aug 2, particularly around the border town of Aita al-Shaab where three Israeli soldiers were and as many as 20 Hizbullah guerrillas were killed. On the twenty second day of hosilities, the Israeli army put thousands of soldiers into the border zone after orders from the government to widen the offensive and clear an area several kilometers inside Lebanon. Lebanese police said at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike on a village during the overnight raid in the vicinity of Baalbek. Hussein Rahal, Hizbullah spokesman, told AP early Aug 2 Israeli troops had landed near the Hizbullah-run Dar al-Hikma Hospital in Baalbek, about 10 miles from Lebanon's border with Syria. In Washington on Aug 1, Israel's deputy PM, Shimon Peres, said that the military campaign may take several weeks: In my judgment, it [a ceasefire] is not far away. You can count it in a matter of weeks, not months". However, despite his comments, US State Sec Condoleezza Rice, said she remained confident that a ceasefire could be achieved by Aug 5: This week is entirely possible. Certainly we are talking about days not weeks". Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general, is gathering international nations for talks on Aug 3, on potential troop contributors to the proposed international force in Lebanon.