Monday, August 7 2006 10:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beirut: A fierce battle raged between Israelis and Hezbollah fighters yesterday (Aug 6, 2006) in the Lebanese border region with the guerillas unleashing their deadly rockets in northern Israel killing at least 12 while Tel Aviv's bombardment killed at least 14 in southern Lebanon.

Israeli radio reports said at least one woman was killed from an attack on Haifa, Israel's third largest city. Rescue services said more than 30 people were injured from the attack. Also, one building hit in the bombardment collapsed, reports said.

The rockets fired by the Hezbollah from southern Lebanon landed on in Kfar Giladi, Kiryat Shmona and other Israeli towns. Ten reserve soldiers were killed on the spot when a rocket landed near the entrance of a communal farm and two succumbed to their injuries. Five others were wounded, two seriously.

The Israeli army later confirmed that all 12 killed were its soldiers.

Israeli military also bombed several districts of the Hezbollah stronghold of Beirut causing a tower block to collapse.

Hezbollah announced the deaths of three of its fighters in clashes with the Israeli army in south Lebanon.

Twelve civilians were killed in Israeli bombardments on southern Lebanon, including an attack which destroyed a house in Ansar.

The attacks came hours after France and the US, after considerable debate, agreed on a draft UN resolution to end the fighting. The draft calls for a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations.