Israeli troops take southern Lebanon town

Israeli troops, backed by tanks and armoured vehicles, took the key southern Lebanon town of Marjayoun early today.

The move came just hours before a senior Israeli official announced that the military would hold off expanding its ground offensive to give diplomacy a chance.

Cabinet minister Rafi Eitan confirmed the government’s decision to wait after Israel’s security cabinet yesterday approved the deeper push into Lebanon.

Israel’s capture of Marjayoun and advances on nearby towns appeared to underline that it was continuing its operations to strengthen its position in the border areas, even though it was not broadening its offensive.

Some 10,000 troops have been operating within a four-mile-deep border strip in southern Lebanon.

By establishing positions at the northern entrances of Marjayoun about six miles from the border, Israel takes its ground operations deeper into southern Lebanon than before, although only by a few miles.

The troops met no resistance as they pushed their way into the Christian town, residents said.