Argentina on Tuesday sent its first batch of humanitarian aid to the war-hit Lebanon, officials said.

The first 2.3 tons of aid material, from the government and non-government organizations, included food, medicine, tents and water-purification tablets. The aid is expected to arrive in Cyprus on Friday and afterwards be transported by boat to the Lebanese capital of Beirut by the weekend.

Gabriel Fuks, president of the White Helmets Commission, which was organizing the aid shipments, said the second batch of shipment was scheduled for next week. But he noted Argentina would not send any staff to Lebanon for humanitarian aid mission.

Israel launched retaliatory attacks on Lebanon on July 12 after Lebanese militia Hezbollah staged an incursion into the Israeli territory, killing several soldiers and seizing two more.

The conflict has killed about 1,000 Lebanese people, and the Lebanese government said the actual casualties were higher as many killed have been buried in the rubble.

Source: Xinhua