Guerrilla, Civilian Die as Israelis and Hezbollah Clash in Lebanon

Hezbollah guerrillas on Thursday attacked Israeli and allied militia positions in southern Lebanon, briefly overrunning one.

Israel retaliated with airstrikes and an artillery bombardment.

During the exchange, a guerrilla was killed, and three Israeli soldiers and two militiamen of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army were wounded, Lebanese and Israeli security officials said.

A 65-year-old Lebanese civilian also died of a heart attack.

A statement issued by Hezbollah in Beirut said its forces attacked 18 Israeli and South Lebanon Army positions with rockets, mortars and machine-gun fire.

The attack was the largest offensive that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah has launched since Feb. 4, when it raided 25 Israeli and militia positions.

An Israeli helicopter gunship fired three missiles at guerrillas near the militia outpost of Haddatha, seven miles north of the Israeli border on the edge of the Israeli-occupied zone in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah held the outpost for about 10 minutes and then retreated after throwing grenades into the bunkers, Lebanese security officials said.

Israel established the 440-square-mile self-declared security zone in 1985 to protect its northern border towns against guerrilla attacks.

The area is patrolled by Israeli soldiers and Lebanese troops.