Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni vowed Wednesday that in response to Lebanese Hizbullah movement's attack, which left seven Israeli soldiers dead and two captured by the militia, Israel has no choice other than to defenditself.

"Hizbullah is a terrorist organization, which is part of the Lebanese government," Livni said in a statement, adding that "Israel views the government of Lebanon as responsible for today's unprovoked aggression."

"There is an axis of terror and hate, created by Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas that wants to end any hope for peace...In these circumstances, Israel has no alternative but to defend itself and its citizens. We also expect the international community to act," vowed the statement.

Israeli troops traded fire with Hizbullah militia across the border early Wednesday morning after at least two rockets fired byHizbullah hit northern Israel, wounding four Israelis.

Afterwards, Israeli tanks shelled Hizbullah strongholds and military aircraft pounded bridges and a power plant in southern Lebanon.

Hizbullah has claimed that it had kidnapped two Israeli soldiers, demanding Israel release prisoners held in Israeli jailsin exchange for the two soldiers.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said in the afternoon that four more Israeli soldiers were killed in south Lebanon on Wednesday when searching for two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah militia, bringing the death toll to seven.

The four soldiers were killed when a tank was attacked in southLebanon during searches for the abducted servicemen, after three other soldiers were killed in the initial raid by Hizbullah, said the spokeswoman.