Israeli troops sealed off a Hezbollah stronghold in fierce fighting in south Lebanon and warplanes struck this market city Tuesday, killing six people as the two-week-old crisis showed no signs of letting up, despite frantic diplomatic efforts.

In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel has the stamina for a long fight and is determined to defeat the guerrillas.

Israeli soldiers comfort each other after returning from southern Lebanon where the Israeli army is taking casualties during fighting near the Lebanese town of Bint Jbail, in the Israeli side of the border Monday July 24, 2006. Heavy fighting erupted Monday morning as Israeli ground forces pushed into Lebanon, heading toward Bint Jbail, a Hezbollah stronghold, the military said, as rockets continued to fall on northern Israel. [AP]

In a speech at Ben Gurion International Airport, Olmert told new immigrants that "we are a strong people, and we have the stamina for a long struggle."

"We will continue with this campaign to reach all our objectives and to defeat the enemies of the land of Israel and the people of Israel," he said.

Outlining the scope of the Israeli campaign for the first time, a senior army commander said Israel would only encircle Lebanese towns and villages near the border and did not plan a deeper push into the country.

"The intention is to deal with the Hezbollah infrastructure that is within reach," Col. Hemi Livni, who commands Israeli troops in the western sector of southern Lebanon, told Israel Army Radio, told Israel Army Radio. "That means in southern Lebanon, not going beyond that."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Israel on the second leg of a Middle East tour, maintained the Bush administration's position that a cease-fire must come with conditions that make an enduring peace, saying the time has come for an urgent end to the violence hanging over the region.

"I have no doubt there are those who wish to strangle a democratic and sovereign Lebanon in its crib," Rice said before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem. "We, of course, also urgently want to end the violence."

Olmert welcomed Rice warmly and vowed that "Israel is determined to carry on this fight against Hezbollah." He said his government "will not hesitate to take severe measures against those who are aiming thousands of rockets and missiles against innocent civilians for the sole purpose of killing them."

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