Israel attacks Beirut international airport

Israel widened its offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas Thursday, targeting the country's only international airport and forcing its closure, and blasting southern Lebanon for a second day in what appeared to be Israel's fiercest military campaign against Lebanon since the 1982 invasion.

Photo: Israel attacks Beirut international airport

In southern Lebanon, at least 22 civilians were reported killed in overnight Israeli attacks, including a family of 12 in the village of Dweir, leading TV station LBC reported. Other TV stations, including Hezbollah's al-Manar, put the figures at 27 killed, including 10 children. Police had no immediate confirmation of the latest casualties, according to the AP.

The latest fighting erupted in southern Lebanon on Wednesday after Hezbollah attacked Israeli border positions, capturing two Israeli soldiers. Eight other Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting and Israel promised harsh retaliation, blasting bridges and roads in southern Lebanon throughout Wednedsay. Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday offered to trade the soldiers for Arab prisoners, warning Israel that he will fight if attacked.

Hezbollah has declared it has more than 10,000 rockets and has in the past struck northern Israeli communities in retaliation for attacks against Lebanese civilians.