Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, Dec. 19

BEIRUT -- Israeli forces equipped with large bulldozers and protected by Merkava tanks are carrying out demolition and bulldozing operations on Thursday in border towns in southern Lebanon, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The Israeli bulldozers continue to detonate, demolish and bulldoze houses in the villages of Kfar Kila, Maroun al-Ras and the inner neighborhoods of the town of Naqoura,