Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz speaks at a briefing for Israeli military correspondents in Tel Aviv,  2 Jan. 2007

Israel's military chief, Lieutenant-General Dan Halutz, has resigned amid inquiries into last year's conflict with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

General Halutz submitted his resignation to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz Tuesday.

He said he decided "it was time for him to assume responsibilities" and step down, after overseeing the military's own investigations into the war.

Israel's Defense Ministry says General Halutz will remain in his post until a successor is named.

General Halutz as well as the Olmert government faced heavy criticism over the military's performance during the 34-day war.

The conflict ended with Israel falling short of its goals of stopping Hezbollah from firing rockets into Israel and of securing the release of two Israeli soldiers.

Hezbollah gunmen had seized the two soldiers in a deadly cross border raid.