WASHINGTON — Israel's offensive in Lebanon is designed to destroy Hezbollah's weapons depots and command-and-control centers, effectively neutralizing the militia, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon said Friday.

"I would say by and large about 40 percent of Hezbollah's capabilities are neutralized,"the envoy said in an Associated Press interview."Most of the long-range (missiles) have been hit, a lot of the medium range, but they still have thousands and thousands of rockets, short-range and others. It is not an easy operation."

Ayalon said Israel's drive has been slowed by its efforts not to hurt civilians or to inflict unnecessary damage on Lebanon's civilian infrastructure.

"The operation could be halted right away if we get the return of our soldiers,"he said, referring to two soldiers abducted by Hezbollah."We do not seek a long campaign."

Assessing Hezbollah's strength, he said,"For the first time in history there's a terrorist group"with military forces stronger than those of many countries in the region.

Ayalon said Israel would not strike deep into Lebanon with soldiers and tanks, concentrating instead on installations near its border.

Israel first must take out Hezbollah's command-and-control centers and weapons stockpiles before it can consider insertion of an international security force to stabilize the region, he said.

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Ayalon described the Israeli military effort as a"mop up"operation, and said that Israel had no desire to repeat its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon that ended in 2000.

"They overplayed their hand, they miscalculated,"Ayalon said of Hezbollah militants based in southern Lebanon and supported by Syria and Iran.

"This is a war not of our choosing,"he said."I do not see any Syria-Israel war or war with Iran at this point."

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