Latest Developments in Mideast Fighting

The bodies of passengers remain in their seats in a minibus that was hit by an Israeli attack a few days previously, on a road near Tibnin north of Bint Jbail in southern Lebanon Wednesday, July 26, 2006. Thousands of Lebanese civilians are believed to remain in the areas around Tibnin and further south, many trapped in their homes by Israeli bombardment. (AP Photo/Sheryl Mendez) (Sheryl Mendez - AP)

-- Developments Thursday about the Middle East fighting:

_ Israel's government decided against expanding its offensive against Hezbollah but called up at least 30,000 troops to begin training for duty in Lebanon.

_ President Bush condemned Iran's role in the fighting. "Hezbollah attacked Israel. I know Hezbollah is connected to Iran," Bush said at the White House. "Now is the time for the world to confront this danger."

_ Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is cutting short her stay at the ASEAN conference and said she was willing to return to the Middle East on a peace mission.

_ Israel's Justice minister said world leaders, in failing to call for an immediate cease-fire during a Rome summit, gave Israel a green light to push harder to wipe out the Lebanese guerrillas. In line with other EU countries, Germany's foreign minister called Israel's interpretation of the Rome meeting outcome a "gross misunderstanding."

_ Hezbollah fired dozens more rockets on Israel. The Israeli military warned Lebanese in the south that their villages would be "totally destroyed" if missiles are fired from them.

_ Hezbollah's leader reportedly was to meet with Syrian and Iranian officials in Damascus.

_ Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said "intensive efforts" were under way for a deal that would gain the release of an Israeli soldier captured by the militant group Hamas.

_ Osama bin Laden deputy Ayman al-Zawahri threatened new attacks in response to Israel's offensive, al-Qaida's first comment on the fighting.

_ The U.N. Security Council approved a weak statement expressing shock and distress at Israel's bombing of a U.N. post in Lebanon that killed four military observers.

_ Israel's U.N. ambassador ruled out major U.N. involvement in any potential international force in Lebanon.

_ About 300 people marched from a former U.S. military base to the U.N, offices in Panama City to demand a cease-fire in Lebanon. Some 500 people marched in Bahrain in support of Hezbollah.