THE Israeli military’s inquiry into the bombing of a building in the Lebanese village of Qana that killed at least 28 civilians admits a mistake, but says Hezbollah guerrillas used civilians as shields for rocket attacks.

Hezbollah rocket strikes killed seven people in northern Israel today, while the guerrillas killed three Israeli soldiers and claimed they knocked out two tanks in fierce fighting in southern Lebanon.

An Israeli missile hit a house in a Lebanese border village early today, killing a family of three, Lebanese security officials said.

Israel will “expand and strengthen” its attack on Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, the defence minister said today, diminishing hopes that a 48-hour halt in air strikes could be turned into a longer-term ceasefire.

France mobilised to send urgent aid to Lebanon, the Red Cross managed to get relief supplies to the south, and Israel agreed to allow a safe corridor for ensuring that food and medicine reaches those in need.

A Lebanese guerrilla was killed and two Lebanese civilians were wounded in cross-border fighting today as Lebanese gunmen responded to Israeli airstrikes by attacking Israel, the Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV said.