An Israeli government spokesman said yesterday that Israeli army troops have crossed the Israel-Lebanon border into southern Lebanon to conduct a ground offensive against Hezbollah stronghold.

The spokesman Asaf Shariv told the press that the ground troops have been sent into Lebanon following six-day air and sea assault on the country.

Israeli army launched massive air raids on Lebanon in the wake of the capture of two Israeli soldiers and killing of eight others by Lebanese Shiite militant group Hizbollah in last Wednesday's border clash.

Although Israel sent warships into Lebanese maritime space on last Thursday to impose a sea blockade in addition to the air blockade, Israeli army has been reluctant to send ground troops into southern Lebanon, a stronghold of the Hizbollah, for fear of huge casualties.