Iran denies Israeli allegation in Hizbollah's transfer of soldiers

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied the Israeli allegation that Lebanon's Hizbollah attempted to transfer two Israeli soldiers it took hostage to Iran.

"We strongly deny such reports," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

"Israel is talking absurdities since it is in desperation and a crisis it has created," he added.

Earlier, Israel said that there was information that Hizbollah militants were attempting to transfer the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers to Iran.

Israel launched intense airstrikes on Lebanon and blockaded Lebanese sea ports on Thursday after Lebanon's Hizbollah militia kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others during cross-border clashes on Wednesday.

Israeli troops also entered southern Lebanon to search for the kidnapped soldiers.

About 50 Lebanese have been killed so far and two Israeli women were killed in Hizbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel on Thursday.

Source: Xinhua