Israeli troops surrounded this morning a second Hezbollah stronghold in the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbail after taking control of nearby village Maroun al-Ras last weekend, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

"There is still fighting going on. I can't say we are in total control of the village yet," an army spokesman was quoted assaying.

On Monday, two Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded during combat in Bint Jbail, the report said, adding that Hezbollah lost at least 10 gunmen in the battle.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese family of seven was killed when Israel Air Force (IAF) struck a house in southern Lebanon early Tuesday, Lebanese hospital and security officials said.

IAF jets fired a missile at the house in the market town of Nabatiyeh, destroying it and killing a man, his wife and five children, the sources said.

Bint Jbail is about 2 km north of the hilltop village of Marounal-Ras. Over the weekend, Israeli troops fought for control of Maroun al-Ras, which is less than 500 meters from the border. The Israeli military has estimated it needs between a week to ten days to continue its offensive in Lebanon before a cease-fire can be called.

Nearly 400 Lebanese and about 40 Israelis have been killed since the start of the Israeli offensive in the wake of the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerillas during cross-border attacks on July 12.