Israeli soldiers stand on top of military vehicles near the village of Avivim, Israeli-Lebanese border, July 22, 2006. Israeli troops on Saturday entered villages in southern Lebanon under the cover of heavy artillery and tank fire. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Israeli raids on Lebanon continue, humanitarian crisis looms

    BEIRUT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- As Israel's assaults on Lebanon entered its 12th day on Sunday, civilian and military casualties on both sides are mounting and the risk of a major humanitarian crisis is looming larger.

    At least three people were wounded as Israel pounded Hezbollah's stronghold in Sidon of Beirut on Saturday and destroyed a Shiite building and Israeli troops ousted Hezbollah fighters from another stronghold in a hilltop village.

    Earlier, Israeli warplanes hit television and mobile phone antennae in Lebanon, and Israeli troops entered villages in southern Lebanon under the cover of heavy artillery and tank fire, urging residents of 14 villages in the area to leave.

    Meanwhile, Israel is building a detention center for holding Hezbollah gunmen to be captured in the imminent battles in Lebanon.

    However, the military said no full-scale offensive had been prepared for now.

    Also on Saturday, Hezbollah fired some 40 rockets at towns in northern Israel, wounding 16 people. The guerillas also attacked an Israeli military base near the Israeli border with Lebanon earlier, wounding one Israeli soldier.

    Up to now, Israel's assault has killed 355 people, most of them civilians, and Hezbollah's attacks claimed 34 Israeli lives. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated from Lebanon

    The confrontation between the two sides was triggered after the Lebanon-based Hezbollah kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in a cross-border attack on July 12.