Berri condemns use of white phosphorus amid renewed Israeli shelling

The Israeli army said Thursday its forces had eliminated "five Hezbollah cells" that tried to open fire from south Lebanon yesterday.

Israel later fired two artillery shells on the Ghasouna area in Blida's eastern outskirts and on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab with phosphorus bombs, as its troops machine-gunned the forests surrounding the Ruwaisat al-Alam site in the Kfarshouba Heights and Wadi Hounin, facing Markaba.

The phosphorus bombs ignited fires in Aita al-Shaab, Alma al-Shaab, Rmeish, Dhaira, Marwahin, Yaroun, Kfarshouba, Shebaa and Naqoura.

Israel meanwhile fired shells to obstruct the army and firefighting crews from reaching the burning forests near Aita al-Shaab.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Thursday the use of the internationally restricted white phosphorus bombs in the southern Lebanese towns and forests, asking the international community and all the international envoys who are visiting the region en-masse to act.

The Lebanese Red Cross had transferred overnight six injured fighters and the bodies of two killed by Israeli shelling from Yaroun's outskirts to the Bint Jbeil Governmental Hospital.

Hezbollah later announced the deaths of two of its members, raising the death toll on the Lebanese side to more than 52, including four civilians and at least six Palestinian militants.