Background: Recent violence between Israel and Hizbollah

Israel said yesterday it was determined to pursue a war against Hizbollah that the United States has sanctioned.

Here is a chronology of the violence between Israel and the Hizbollah guerrilla group:

July 12 - Hizbollah captures two Israeli soldiers and kills up to eight. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert calls it an "act of war" by Lebanon.

July 13 - Israeli aircraft bomb runways at Beirut airport. Israel's navy blockades Lebanese ports.

July 14 - Israeli warplanes blast the main Beirut-Damascus highway, tightening an air, sea and land blockade of Lebanon.

July 15 - Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora demands an immediate UN-backed ceasefire, denouncing Israel for turning his country into a "disaster zone". He appeals for foreign aid.

-- An Israeli missile in southern Lebanon kills 20, including 15 children.

July 16 - Rockets fired by Hizbollah kill eight in the Israeli city of Haifa. Israel's Olmert warns Lebanon of "far-reaching consequences" after the attack.

-- Group of Eight leaders at their annual summit blame an upsurge in violence on "extremists" and while accepting Israel's right to self-defence say Israel must exercise restraint.

-- Syria vows a "harsh and direct" response if it is attacked by Israel.

July 17 - British Prime Minister Tony Blair and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan call for the deployment of a security force in Lebanon.

July 18 - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni says Hizbollah must free its two Israeli captives without conditions.

July 19 - Israeli troops cross the border to raid Hizbollah posts. Two soldiers are killed and nine injured in the fighting.

-- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls for an immediate end to hostilities to "prevent further loss of innocent life".

July 21 - Israel warns Lebanese civilians to leave border villages and calls up 3,000 reserves.

July 22 - Israel ousts Hizbollah guerrillas from the hilltop village of Maroun al-Ras, a stronghold just inside Lebanon.

July 23 - Jan Egeland, UN emergency relief coordinator, says Israeli bombing of a Beirut neighbourhood where Hizbollah had its headquarters has breached humanitarian law. He also says rockets going into Israel have to stop.

July 24 - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flies to Lebanon from Cyprus and meets Prime Minister Siniora.

July 25 - Israel's 14-day-old onslaught has killed 413 people, mostly civilians. 42 Israelis, including 18 civilians, have also died.

-- Olmert meets Rice to discuss war in Lebanon.

-- Israel fights guerrillas inside Hizbollah stronghold town of Bint Jbeil, says 20-30 Hizbollah fighters killed.

-- Defence Minister Amir Peretz says that Israel intends to control a security zone in southern Lebanon until an international force can be deployed.

- REUTERS

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