The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has cut short a visit to Europe because of the deteriorating security situation in south Lebanon.

Two more Israeli soldiers were killed overnight by a roadside bomb planted by suspected Hizbollah guerrillas in the Israeli-occupied zone.

They were part of a patrol which went to assist an army vehicle damaged by an earlier bomb explosion.

Israeli planes retaliated with raids against targets just north of the zone.

Seven Israelis have now been killed in southern Lebanon in less than two weeks.

Speaking in London, Mr Netanyahu said he was returning home for a cabinet meeting, instead of travelling to Spain.