The Israeli security cabinet approved Wednesday afternoon a broader ground offensive by the Israeli army in Lebanon, authorizing troops to push to the Litani River some 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, Haaretz has reported.
The cabinet also authorized Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz to determine the bounds of the extended ground operation but its expansion would not necessarily be immediate.
During a break in the cabinet meeting, Olmert called U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to provide her with an update on the situation.
On his part, Industry and Trade Minister Yishai said after the decision that the proposed new ground offensive in Lebanon was expected to take 30 days. "The assessment is it will last 30 days. I think it is wrong to make this assessment. I think it will take a lot longer," he said.
This came as media reports in Arab TV channels indicated that Israel lost at least 11 of its soldiers in clashes with Hizbullah in southern Lebanon. The Israeli army confirmed casualties in battles with Hizbullah fighters in the villages of Eita al-Shaab and Dabal.
