A Hezbollah Cabinet minister today said the group would not release two captured Israeli soldiers unconditionally, and that they would only be freed in a prisoner exchange.

Lebanon’s cabinet tonight unanimously accepted the UN ceasefire plan to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters, moving the deal a step closer to implementation, the prime minister said.

Hezbollah fired an enormous barrage of rockets at towns across northern Israel today, killing 10 people in the worst attack on Israel since the violence began on July 12, rescue services said.

The US and France agreed yesterday on a draft UN Security Council resolution that seeks a full halt to fighting in Lebanon, breaking a three-week impasse caused partly by Washington’s refusal to press Israel to end its offensive against Hezbollah.

Israel and Hezbollah sharply intensified fighting with punishing airstrikes, scores of rocket attacks and brutal ground fighting – an apparent bid to inflict maximum mutual damage in the few days remaining before a draft UN cease-fire resolution takes hold.