Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will have no limitations in operations to stop Hezbollah rocket attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday.

"We cannot have a million residents living in shelters. On this matter, there will be no limitations on the army," Olmert said during a visit to the Northern Command, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

"This war has involved fatalities...but at the moment we have to cope with it, both on the battlefield and the home front," the prime minister said. "I will give you every strength and support, we are not stopping (the fight)."

Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that he had instructed the army to expand offensives against Hezbollah rocket launching sites.

"We are at one of the most decisive stages of this war ... We will occupy Katyusha launching pads in order to quell the fire, "Peretz told the Knesset (parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The decision was made after Hezbollah rocket attacks killed 15 Israelis including 12 reservist soldiers in northern Israel on Sunday, the deadliest day for Israel since the violence began on July 12.