Israeli strikes two power stations in Lebanon

The Israeli forces have launched more air strikes against Lebanon on Friday and its bombardment targeted two power stations and a resistance-fighters' arms depot and blowing a crater to block the main highway between Beirut and Damascus.

One Lebanese civilians was wounded and the power stations, one on the outskirts of Beirut, burned for hours, according to witnesses.

Meantime, Israeli gunboats off the south Lebanon coast joined in the attacks against Lebanese national resistance positions.

The Israeli warplanes attacked the power station of Bsalim on the outskirts of Beirut and another station in Deir Amar, near the northern Palestinian refugee camp in Beddawi.

A source at the public Electricity De Liban said one transformer at the Bsalim plant was completely destroyed and three others were severely damaged.

In north Lebanon, a four- storey building overlooking the Deir Amar station was hit and the station itself burnt for several hours.

Meanwhile, the Israeli planes flew low over Beirut, breaking the sound barrier. In the south, the Israeli warplanes raided the outskirts of Khurbet Soloum. The arms depot attacked was in the Bekka valley.

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said the Israeli raids were timed to coincide with the visit of the UN chief special envoy Terry Larsen, who was discussing with Lebanese leaders the Israeli plans to end its 22 year-long occupation by July.

The Lebanese president added that Israel did not want to honor the UN resolutions calling for withdrawal.