Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault    

    BEIRUT, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Two Lebanese civilians and seven Israeli soldiers were killed in violence between Israeli forces and Lebanon's Hizbollah militia on Wednesday.

    Two Lebanese civilians were killed and several others were wounded in an Israeli raid that destroyed the Qasimiyeh bridge near the border with Israel, said the sources.

    Israeli military planes struck bridges and a power plant in Lebanon after at least two rockets fired by Lebanese Hizbollah militia hit northern Israel, wounding four Israeli civilians.

    Meanwhile, both Hizbollah's al-Manar TV and the pan-Arab al-Jazeera satellite TV reported that seven Israeli soldiers were killed and at least eight others wounded in clashes in the border area.

    Hizbollah militants also seized two Israeli soldiers, demanding Israel release prisoners held in Israeli jails for their safe return.

    Israeli Army Radio reported that Israeli troops entered Lebanon to search for the abducted soldiers. Enditem