Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nadia barrio on Friday urged the Arab countries to support an immediate ceasefire between the concerned parties of Lebanon and Israel, so as to avoid the breakout of war in the whole Middle Eastern region.

In an interview with Al Jazeera television, Berri said he was surprised that a summit of Arab leaders had not taken place yet.

"If this aggression on the people of Lebanon and Palestine doesnot warrant a summit, then what does?" he asked.

Berri continued that Israel was "not fighting Hezbollah," but mounting war "on all of Lebanon."

Berri also said Israel's attacks were "premeditated," targeting all countries that come close to Lebanon, including Syria and Iran.

Israel launched a fierce aerial offensive against Hezbollah on July 12 when the Lebanese guerrilla group captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in cross-border attack.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan have criticized Hezbollah for sparking the fighting, which has killed more than 450 people in Lebanon and 51 Israelis.

The Israeli army said assaults on Lebanon continued Friday as Israeli forces killed 26 Hezbollah guerillas in clashes in the southern Lebanese border town of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold located about 4 km into south Lebanon from the border with Israel.

As the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon worsened, UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland called on Friday for a 72-hour truce between Israel and Hezbollah so that relief workers can fulfill humanitarian needs in the region.

The UN was asking the parties "for at least a 72-hour cessation of hostilities so that we can evacuate the wounded, we can evacuate children, the elderly and the disabled from the cross-fire in southern Lebanon," Jan Egeland said after returning from a trip to the region to coordinate the international aid effort.

Also on Friday, the United Nations withdrew eight peacekeepers from two outposts in southern Lebanon after another base came under renewed Israeli attack.

The UN now has four unoccupied bases in the area, out of a total of more than 40 outposts.

The base at Khiam in southeastern Lebanon has been left unoccupied since repeated Israeli shelling of the post killed four unarmed UN observers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland on Tuesday.