Helicopter-borne Israeli commandos attacked Hizbollah fighters near Lebanon's southern city of Tyre on Saturday and a top U.S. official met Lebanese leaders on a possible deal to end the 25-day-old war. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch was expected to discuss with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora a draft U.N. resolution that world powers hope will halt a conflict in which at least 734 people in Lebanon and 75 Israelis have been killed. Welch held talks with Nabih Berri, who has acted as the main contact between the government and Hizbollah since the violence began. The U.S. official said nothing as he left Berri's home after the meeting. Dozens of Lebanese protested at Welch's visit, gathering outside Siniora's offices in Beirut to condemn what they see as U.S. support for Israel's offensive in Lebanon. The Israeli army said eight Israeli naval commandos were wounded in the raid near Tyre, aimed at Hizbollah fighters. The head of Israel's northern command, Major-General Udi Adam, told Israel Radio the operation was an attempt to target senior Hizbollah figures but gave no details. The army said a "good number" of Hizbollah fighters were killed in the raid. Lebanese security sources said four civilians and a Lebanese soldier were killed during the fighting in citrus groves just north of Tyre. Hizbollah said one Israeli soldier had been killed and many wounded in the battle. The group's al-Manar television station showed spent bullets strewn over the bloodstained concrete floor of a compound. An Israeli air strike later killed two men on a motorcycle on the outskirts of Tyre, Reuters quoted witnesses as saying. The Israeli army also said one soldier had been killed and one wounded just inside Lebanon overnight when Hizbollah mortar rounds hit their vehicle. They had been hunting for rocket launchers across the border from the Israeli village of Metula.
