Thursday, August 10 2006 18:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tel Aviv: Israeli jets continued their strikes against Hezbollah guerrillas, attacking rocket launchers and structures, an army spokeswoman said Thursday.

Unconfirmed reports from Lebanon said Israeli ground troops had entered the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun. The spokeswoman would only say that troops were operating in the area. Israel's security cabinet decided Wednesday to widen the ground offensive, with the forces advancing as far as the Litani river, in an effort to push Hezbollah guerrillas back from the border area. But Israel Army Radio, quoting unnamed political officials, said Thursday that the expanded ground offensive could be delayed for 48 hours in an attempt to give some time to diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire. Some 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in fierce fighting in Lebanon Wednesday, bringing to 120 the total number of Israeli fatalities since the fighting began July 12. Among them 82 are soldiers and 38 civilians, killed by rockets Hezbollah has launched across the border. The Israeli army said 40 Hezbollah members had been killed in the latest fighting but this could to be independently confirmed.