Lebanon latest

SINCE the fighting started with the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah on July 12, at least 306 people have been killed in Lebanon and 29 people in Israel, according to official reports.

In other developments yesterday:

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera quoted Lebanese Prime Minister as saying that Hezbollah has created a “state within a state” adding: “The entire world must help us disarm Hezbollah. But first we need to reach a cease-fire.” But Mr Saniora’s office quickly issued a statement denying the remarks.

Israeli air and ground forces killed three Palestinians during the second day of a raid against militants in a Gaza refugee camp, and the army dropped leaflets in Gaza City warning residents that it will attack homes hiding militant weapons. Military officials said the army is adopting a new policy of attacking homes in civilian areas where weapons, such as the home-made rockets routinely fired into Israel, are secretly stored.

The father of an Israeli soldier snatched by Lebanese guerrillas appealed to the captors to make their demands known so he can at least be assured his son is alive. Ehud Goldwasser’s father, Shlomo, 59, said he was desperate for word on his son’s condition.

Russia said Israel’s actions have gone “far beyond the boundaries of an anti-terrorist operation,” and it repeated a call for an immediate cease-fire.

About 40 US Marines landed in Beirut to help Americans onto the USS Nashville, which will carry 1,200 evacuees bound for Cyprus in the second mass US exodus from Lebanon. Thousands of Europeans also fled on ships — continuing one of the largest evacuation operations since World War II. An estimated 13,000 foreign nationals have been evacuated, including thousands of Britons, Danes and French citizens. But about 200 Australians were stranded on the docks in Beirut overnight, after the ship that had been enlisted to evacuate them to Cyprus was forced to leave without them.

The European Union pledged €10 million to help civilian victims of the violence in Lebanon.

The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to support Israel. The resolution, which was passed on a 410-8 vote, also condemns enemies of the Jewish state. House Republican leader John Boehner cited Israel’s “unique relationship” with the US as a reason for his colleagues to swiftly go on record supporting Israel.