Israeli prime minister said yesterday that he takes sole responsibility for the offensive against Lebanon and Israel reserves right to respond to any truce violation, Britain's Sky News television reported.

In a speech at the Knesset (parliament) hours after a UN-brokered truce came into effect, Ehud Olmert said there were "deficiencies" in the war.

"We will have to review ourselves in all the battles," he said, adding that Israel will "do better" if there is another war with Hezbollah in the future.

Olmert said the fighting changed the strategic balance in the region, with Hezbollah's weaponry storage being mostly destroyed.

At the same time, the prime minister vowed that Israel would continue to hunt down the leaders of Hezbollah, calling it a "moral right,"

"We will continue to pursue them everywhere and at all times," he said.

Referring to the UN Security Council resolution, Olmert said the ceasrfire was a "diplomatic achievement for Israel."

The UN Security Council Resolution 1701, calling for Israel's withdrawal and authorizing an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese government troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws, went into effect at 8:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Monday.

In addition, Olmert promised to lead all moves to get two captured soldiers back, whose abduction on July 12 by Hezbollah militias triggered the war in southern Lebanon.