Lebanese Information Minister: Israel is using internationally prohibited weapons against civilians

Lebanon’s Cabinet today issued a statement saying the country faced “real annihilation” by Israel.

It also accused the Jewish state of using banned weapons against Lebanese civilians.

“We are facing a real annihilation carried out by Israel,” Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after an emergency cabinet meeting.

“Israel is using internationally prohibited weapons against civilians,” he said.

He did not elaborate, but Lebanese media reports, which could not be confirmed, claimed Israel had used phosphorus incendiary bombs and vacuum bombs, which suck up the air and collapse buildings.

In Israel, defence minister Amir Peretz said today that his country will not stop its offensive in Lebanon until “the reality changes”.

He said the army would continue to target the sources of guerrilla rocket fire into northern Israel.

But, Peretz added, Israel will not reoccupy Lebanon, nor will it stay there for the long term.

At at a meeting with officials in Haifa, where eight people were killed today in a missile strike, Peretz promised that the army would continue to fight the Lebanese guerrillas to stop the attacks on northern Israel.

“We’ve no intention of stopping this campaign until the reality has changed,” he said. “Whoever hit Haifa will pay a heavy price.”

Peretz also urged Israelis to be strong, remain calm and have patience, while the army continued its offensive to try to stop the rocket fire.

“Every source of fire will be dealt with,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia today donated about €40m to Lebanon in response to a plea for help made by its prime minister Fuad Saniora, a Saudi official said.

The official said King Abdullah had ordered a fund transfer immediately.

The aid was aimed at “providing urgent relief to lessen the suffering of the Lebanese people in these difficult times,” the official said in Riyadh.

On Saturday, Saniora urged Arab countries to provide assistance to his “disaster-stricken country”.

Saudi Arabia has criticised Hezbollah for its brazen capture of two Israeli soldiers, which sparked Israel’s five-day bombardment of Lebanon, calling the operation an ”uncalculated adventure.”

Also today, a Saudi official said the kingdom was talking with other countries about how to stop the violence between Israel and Hezbollah.

“The Israeli leadership knows that destroying the Lebanese economy and terrorising the Lebanese people will not serve its security, stability or future in the region,” the official said.

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