Hezbollah continues to hold two Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Their kidnapping was one of the reasons for Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon last summer.

"Any possible release of the soldiers would have to be part of a deal," Hassan Hub-Allah told Kol Al-Arab, a newspaper published in Nazareth. "We demand the release of all the Lebanese, Arab and Palestinian prisoners, that will be conducted indirectly between us and the Zionist enemy."

Other Hezbollah leaders have suggested negotiations are under way.

Hub-Allah also said Hezbollah is prepared to respond if Israel enters Lebanon again and plans to deal with violations of Lebanese air space.

Picture: A Hezbollah parade

Sources: UPI