JERUSALEM, July 13 (Xinhua) -- A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official said on Thursday that there was information that Lebanon's Hizbollah was attempting to transfer two Israeli soldiers it took hostage to Iran.

    "We have concerns that they (kidnapped soldiers) could be taken out of Lebanon to Iran. Those concerns have a basis," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

    But he did not reveal further details, nor disclose the source of his information.

    The Lebanon-based Hizbollah militia seized two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others during clashes against Israeli troops in the border area on Wednesday.

    In response, Israel started a ground, air and sea assault on Lebanon. Enditem

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Iran denies Israeli allegation in Hizbollah's transfer of soldiers  

    TEHRAN, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied the Israeli allegation that Lebanon's Hizbollah attempted to transfer two Israeli soldiers it took hostage to Iran.

    "We strongly deny such reports," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

    "Israel is talking absurdities since it is in desperation and a crisis it has created," he added.

    Earlier, Israel said that there was information that Hizbollah militants were attempting to transfer the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers to Iran.

    Israel launched intense airstrikes on Lebanon and blockaded Lebanese sea ports on Thursday after Lebanon's Hizbollah militia kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others during cross-border clashes on Wednesday.

    Israeli troops also entered southern Lebanon to search for the kidnapped soldiers.

    About 50 Lebanese have been killed so far and two Israeli women were killed in Hizbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel on Thursday. Enditem