August 10, 2006 - Eight Israeli tanks were destroyed by Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon on Thursday morning, claimed Hezbollah in press statements.

The Israeli army are continuing to suffer further losses on Thursday. In battles with Hezbollah fighters in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, at least two Israeli soldiers have been reported to have been injured, one very seriously, and eight Israeli tanks were destroyed, according to the Hezbollah statements.

Media sources, including the pan-Arab satellite channel of Al Jazeera, reported that the Israeli tanks withdrew from Marjayoun after fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters.

However, according to the Lebanese police, the Israeli army took control of the Christian majority town of Marjayoun on Thursday and continued advancing towards the town of Al Khiyam where violent confrontations were reported to have taken place at the entrance.

Lebanese sources reported that the town of Al Khiyam was suffering intensive artillery bombardment, particularly the western district, Sahil Al Khiyam and parts of Dbein and Balat.

Eyewitnesses in Al Khiyam reported that "resistance men clashed violently with the Israeli forces whose vehicles were stationed in Marjayoun".

Eyewitnesses also confirmed that a fire broke out amongst a group of Israeli vehicles stationed between the two towns of Marjayoun and Al Qulayah after "resistance men directly targeted them with missiles".

Lebanese sources also reported also that Israeli forces penetrated early on Thursday morning the surroundings of the governmental headquarters in Marjayoun, called the Serail, and they fired intensively at the headquarters. A number of rooms and vehicles belonging to the Lebanese domestic security forces caught fire as a result of the attack.