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    WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes struck Lebanon overnight in an escalating war against Hezbollah militia, now in its tenth day, with the armed group insisting the two Israeli soldiers would only be released in exchange for Hezbollah prisoners held by Israel.

    Four Israeli troops were killed in fierce battles with Hezbollah guerrillas, who lost two of its fighters, inside Lebanonon Thursday.

    With concerns mounting over the humanitarian crisis, the international community, represented by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, has called for an immediate halt to the violence between Israel and Lebanon.

    Despite the worldwide outcries for an immediate end to the Mideast conflicts, the United States was holding a position against the cease-fire with Hezbollah, dismissing the deal as unrealistic.

    "I think it's a very fundamental question how a terrorist group agrees to a cease-fire," said John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the UN.

    "Who makes the commitments that the terrorist group will abide by a cease-fire? What does a terrorist group think a cease-fire is?" he said.