PARIS - World powers demanded Wednesday the release of two Israeli soldiers snatched by Lebanese militia Hezbollah, fearing the crisis could careen out of control as Israeli forces mounted an offensive in Lebanon.
The United States, United Nations, Russia, Britain, Japan and the European Union condemned the kidnappings and Hezbollah rocket attacks against Israel, saying they had dangerously escalated Middle East tensions.
Israeli ground forces, supported by warplanes, entered southern Lebanon in the biggest push since a 2000 pullout to retrieve the two soldiers snatched by Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
Three Israeli soldiers were also killed in the Hezbollah attack on a border patrol, and four died during the subsequent incursion Wednesday to search for the missing servicemen. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said the men would only be returned if Israeli released Lebanese prisoners in exchange.
"I condemn without hesitation the attack that took place in southern Lebanon and demand that the Israeli soldiers be released immediately," UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters in Rome.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also denounced the kidnapping, saying Hezbollah's action "undermines regional stability and goes against the interests of both the Israeli and Lebanese people."
Rice discussed the situation with Annan, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, according to a statement released upon her arrival in Paris.
"We are united in determination to achieve the release of the Israeli soldiers," she said.
Her deputy for Middle Eastern affairs, David Welch, in Cairo to meet with the Arab League, added: "This is, in the judgement of the United States, a very dangerous escalation.
"We do not see how this will contribute to our effort to resolve the crisis in Gaza and to get back on a path toward a more peaceful relationship between Israel and the Palestinians."
But as Western allies and Japan condemned the violence, Syria and its key regional ally Iran, the main backers of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, both blamed Israel for the clash.
And Palestinian party Hamas congratulated Hezbollah on the operation.
In Damascus, Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara said it was "certain" that Israel's occupation of Arab land was the root cause.
Visiting Iranian envoy Ali Larijani said resistance was the only option at a time when Israel was "launching attacks and carrying out massacres against the Palestinian people".
Hamas, whose armed wing claimed joint responsibility for the capture of another Israeli soldier more than two weeks ago, said in a statement that the snatch of Israeli hostages "shows the weakness of the Israeli army which boasts that it is an invincible army".
And the leader of Egypt's oppposition Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mehdi Akef, said Hezbollah had "achieved what several Arab governments have not" by capturing the soldiers on the Lebanese border.
But outside the region, governments and power blocs united in pressing Hezbollah to free the captives, but most also called on Israel to show a measured response so as to pull back from the brink of even fiercer clashes.
"Hezbollah's actions will further escalate an already tense situation in the region. A further escalation is in no one's interest," British junior foreign minister Kim Howells said. "We call on all parties to take actions to promote a rapid and peaceful resolution of the crisis and urge that any Israeli action be both measured and proportionate," he said.
Russia, calling for the men's release, warned that the border clashes could upset Lebanon's "fragile" stability. "Israel, for its part, should demonstrate restraint," its foreign ministry said.
"We condemn unreservedly kidnappings and the Israeli soldiers must be released safely," said Emma Udwin, the European Union executive spokeswoman in Brussels, while the German government also demanded the men's release "immediately and without any conditions".
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who was visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, expressed concern about the slide into violence.
"But I hope both will agree on the peace process with self-restraint and hope for peace," he said, standing shoulder to shoulder with Olmert.
"We heartily hope that Israel will take rational action by considering the importance of the coexistence and co-prosperity in the mid- and long run."
The United States, United Nations, Russia, Britain, Japan and the European Union condemned the kidnappings and Hezbollah rocket attacks against Israel, saying they had dangerously escalated Middle East tensions.
Israeli ground forces, supported by warplanes, entered southern Lebanon in the biggest push since a 2000 pullout to retrieve the two soldiers snatched by Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran.
Three Israeli soldiers were also killed in the Hezbollah attack on a border patrol, and four died during the subsequent incursion Wednesday to search for the missing servicemen. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said the men would only be returned if Israeli released Lebanese prisoners in exchange.
"I condemn without hesitation the attack that took place in southern Lebanon and demand that the Israeli soldiers be released immediately," UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters in Rome.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also denounced the kidnapping, saying Hezbollah's action "undermines regional stability and goes against the interests of both the Israeli and Lebanese people."
Rice discussed the situation with Annan, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, according to a statement released upon her arrival in Paris.
"We are united in determination to achieve the release of the Israeli soldiers," she said.
Her deputy for Middle Eastern affairs, David Welch, in Cairo to meet with the Arab League, added: "This is, in the judgement of the United States, a very dangerous escalation.
"We do not see how this will contribute to our effort to resolve the crisis in Gaza and to get back on a path toward a more peaceful relationship between Israel and the Palestinians."
But as Western allies and Japan condemned the violence, Syria and its key regional ally Iran, the main backers of the Shiite militia Hezbollah, both blamed Israel for the clash.
And Palestinian party Hamas congratulated Hezbollah on the operation.
In Damascus, Syrian Vice President Faruq al-Shara said it was "certain" that Israel's occupation of Arab land was the root cause.
Visiting Iranian envoy Ali Larijani said resistance was the only option at a time when Israel was "launching attacks and carrying out massacres against the Palestinian people".
Hamas, whose armed wing claimed joint responsibility for the capture of another Israeli soldier more than two weeks ago, said in a statement that the snatch of Israeli hostages "shows the weakness of the Israeli army which boasts that it is an invincible army".
And the leader of Egypt's oppposition Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Mehdi Akef, said Hezbollah had "achieved what several Arab governments have not" by capturing the soldiers on the Lebanese border.
But outside the region, governments and power blocs united in pressing Hezbollah to free the captives, but most also called on Israel to show a measured response so as to pull back from the brink of even fiercer clashes.
"Hezbollah's actions will further escalate an already tense situation in the region. A further escalation is in no one's interest," British junior foreign minister Kim Howells said. "We call on all parties to take actions to promote a rapid and peaceful resolution of the crisis and urge that any Israeli action be both measured and proportionate," he said.
Russia, calling for the men's release, warned that the border clashes could upset Lebanon's "fragile" stability. "Israel, for its part, should demonstrate restraint," its foreign ministry said.
"We condemn unreservedly kidnappings and the Israeli soldiers must be released safely," said Emma Udwin, the European Union executive spokeswoman in Brussels, while the German government also demanded the men's release "immediately and without any conditions".
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who was visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem, expressed concern about the slide into violence.
"But I hope both will agree on the peace process with self-restraint and hope for peace," he said, standing shoulder to shoulder with Olmert.
"We heartily hope that Israel will take rational action by considering the importance of the coexistence and co-prosperity in the mid- and long run."