MARJAYOUN, Lebanon (Reuters) -- At least four children were wounded in a suicide attack aimed at Israeli soldiers in south Lebanon on Thursday, witnesses said.

They said a suicide bomber blew up his car on a main road south of Marjayoun city -- inside Israel's south Lebanon occupation zone -- as an Israeli patrol was passing. The patrol escaped the explosion and no Israeli was wounded.

"The Lebanese Red Cross is taking the wounded away. I could see blood and pieces of flesh everywhere," said a Reuters correspondent at the explosion. "Some of the people look seriously wounded."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility by any of the Lebanese groups fighting to oust Israel from the 15 km (nine miles) deep occupation zone. Thursday's attack was the first such bombing in four years in the region.

Iranian-backed Hezbollah, pro-Syrian Amal movement and other guerrilla groups stage almost daily attacks on Israeli troops and their local militia allies the South Lebanon Army.

Israel, which controlled parts of Lebanon since 1978, carved out the zone in 1985 ostensibly to protect its northern territories against potential cross-border attacks.

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