JERUSALEM, Oct 22: The Israeli army dropped phosphorous bombs against Hezbollah guerrilla targets in Lebanon during the war there this summer, an Israeli Cabinet minister said on Sunday, confirming Lebanese allegations for the first time.

Phosphorus weapons can cause severe burns and are banned for use in civilian areas, but Israel insisted it used the weapons in accordance with international law.

Cabinet Minister Yaakov Edri said Israel used the weapons during August fighting against Hezbollah. Edri was speaking on behalf of Defence Minister Amir Peretz, according to his spokeswoman, Orly Yehezkel.

“The Israeli army holds phosphorous munitions in different forms,” Edri said. “The Israeli army made use of phosphorous shells during the war against Hezbollah in attacks against military targets in open ground.”

During the war, the Lebanese government accused Israel of dropping phosphorous bombs.

Until now, Israel had said it only used the weapons to mark targets or territory, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

Edri did not specify where or against what types of targets the phosphorous bombs were used.

Edri said international law does not ban the use of such weapons. However, many international human rights groups, including the Red Cross, have pushed to ban phosphorous weapons.

White phosphorous is a translucent wax-like substance with a pungent smell that, once ignited, creates intense heat and smoke.

The Geneva Conventions ban using white phosphorous against civilians or civilian areas. The Israeli military said its use of weapons “conforms to international law,” and it investigates claims of violations based on the information provided.

Over 1,200 civilians were killed on both sides during the conflict, which started with Hezbollah’s kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers in July.

Both Israel and Hezbollah have been accused by the United Nations and human rights groups of violating humanitarian law during the conflict.

Israel has been accused of firing as many as 4 million cluster bombs into Lebanon during the war, especially in the last hours before the cease-fire. UN de-mining experts say up to 1 million cluster bombs failed to explode immediately and continue to threaten civilians.

On Sunday, a cluster bomb exploded in a southern Lebanese village, killing a 12-year-old boy and wounding his younger brother, Lebanese security officials said. At least 21 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded by cluster bombs since the end of the war, according to the UN Mine Action Centre.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has been criticized for failing to distinguish between Israeli civilian and military targets. Human Rights Watch also said the militant group fired cluster bombs into civilian areas of northern Israel during the fighting.—AP