Eight Israelis die in heaviest day of losses

ISRAEL yesterday suffered its heaviest losses in Lebanon in its offensive against Hezbollah, with militants killing eight soldiers in a battle for a key town.

A top Israeli commander said he expected the campaign to last “several more weeks”.

With Israel facing fiercer than expected resistance in its campaign against the Islamic militants, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel wants to establish a 2km-wide strip in south Lebanon that will be free of Hezbollah guerrillas — ruling out a larger occupation.