Three Israeli soldiers were killed Thursday when Hezbollah guerrillas detonated two roadside bombs in Israeli-held southern Lebanon.
At least seven people, including four other Israeli soldiers, were wounded in the blasts, 15 minutes apart, security sources said.It was not known if the attacks were linked to Wednesday's elections in Israel, which will determine the course of Mideast peace-making. Hezbollah, which opposes peace with Israel, has repeatedly said that its war to evict Israeli forces from southern Lebanon will not be affected by Israel's internal politics.
The first explosion occurred shortly after noon as military vehicles drove through Marjayoun, the main town in the Israeli-held enclave, the sources said.
Two soldiers in a transport vehicle were wounded by shrapnel and evacuated by military helicopter to Israel. One was critically wounded and later died, the sources said, insisting on anonymity.
Israeli troops and militiamen of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army sent reinforcements to the area, and sealed off the scene of the blast.
The second explosion, 15 yards away, killed the two soldiers. Two other soldiers, a Lebanese militiaman and two Lebanese civilians were wounded, the sources said.
Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed guerrilla group, claimed responsibility. It said in a terse statement the bombings targeted Israeli and SLA military intelligence vehicles.