Israel expands push as U.N. peace deal put on table

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Israeli troops pushed deeper into southern Lebanon on Saturday, expanding the offensive against Hezbollah hours after the U.N. Security Council approved a plan for peace.

The Lebanese Cabinet -- which includes two Hezbollah members -- is set to meet shortly to discuss the U.N. resolution. The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to take it on at its Sunday meeting.

Israel's ambassador to the United States, Daniel Ayalon, said the Cabinet was likely to approve the plan, which calls for a cease-fire and then a massive increase in U.N. troops in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not responded to the proposal, which also calls for the release of two Israeli soldiers whose capture by guerrillas sparked the conflict that has now killed nearly 1,000 people.

Israel Defense Forces said Saturday its troops were moving toward the Litani River, which runs about 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of the Israel-Lebanon border. The IDF said this was the farthest troops have advanced into Lebanon so far.