BEIRUT, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The direct material cost of the war in southern Lebanon since March 2 is preliminarily estimated at 3-4 billion U.S. dollars, state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Monday, citing Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos.
The figure reflects only direct material damage and does not include indirect losses and spillover from prior conflicts, Morcos said after a cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday urged increased U.S. pressure on Israel to withdraw from the areas it still occupies in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Presidency.
"The continued occupation undermines state authority, prevents the deployment of the Lebanese army along the border and obstructs efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace," Aoun said.
Aoun also urged support to implement the U.S.-brokered framework agreement recently reached with Israel, stressing provisions on restoring Lebanese sovereignty and extending state authority over all territory.
Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center reported Monday that the Israeli offensive since March 2 has killed 4,319 people and wounded 12,203 in the country. ■
