EU presidency says Israeli offensive unlikely to dent Hezbollah

The European Union’s presidency today warned that Israel’s offensive in southern Lebanon was unlikely to bring success and was instead bound to increase support for Hezbollah.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency, made the comments after Israel decided to expand its offensive in southern Lebanon, sending troops deeper into the neighbouring country to hunt down Hezbollah fighters and hold the territory until a multi-national force is deployed there.