The Israeli army launched an airstrike in support of a ground operation against Hezbollah guerillas near the southern Lebanese border village of Taibe on Monday, the Israeli army said.

Israeli military planes were operating in the area in a bid to support a ground move, said the army.

The air raid came after Israel announced a 48-hour suspension of aerial bombardments on southern Lebanon on early Monday. But the Israeli army said it would press ahead airstrikes aimed to protect ground troops.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who just wrapped up a visit to Israel on Monday, welcomed the Israeli suspension of airstrikes and voiced optimism of hammering out a ceasefire to end fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon this week.

But Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz told the Knesset ( Parliament) on Monday that Israel must not agree to an immediate ceasefire, adding that the Israeli army would expand its offensive against Hezbollah guerillas who kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight on July 12 and triggered the violence.

Source: Xinhua