Hezbollah guerrillas foiled an Israeli commando raid in Lebanon early Saturday, the Hezbollah TV reported.

A gun battle erupted when a group of Israeli commandoes dropped by helicopter launched the raid west of the Hezbollah's stronghold of Baalbek deep inside Lebanon, leaving Israeli casualties.

Lebanese security officials unofficially confirmed the Hezbollah TV report.

If officially confirmed, the raid would mean the first time that Israel launched a formal military operation since the U.N.-brokered ceasefire went into effect Monday.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that the Israeli commando force landed before dawn and was heading into the Hezbollah stronghold when it was intercepted by Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Hezbollah guerrillas forced the Israeli commandoes to retreat under the cover of warplanes, the report said.