The United States said this afternoon Israel may have violated an agreement with Washington in its use of US-made cluster bombs during last July's war with Hizbullah in Lebanon.
"There were likely violations," said a State Department spokesman, adding that a classified report was being sent to the US Congress today by the State Department indicating possible violations of a "use agreement" between the United States and Israel over the cluster bombs.
He declined to say how Israel had violated US rules in its use of US-made rockets armed with cluster bombs in Lebanon.
A inquiry was opened last year after reports that three types of US cluster bombs were found in southern Lebanon and were responsible for civilian deaths.
Israel has defended its right to use cluster bombs and says it only deploys them in accordance with international law.
Cluster bombs burst into bomblets and spread out near the ground. The United Nations has called for a freeze on the use of those bombs in or near populated areas.
Under the US Arms Export Control Act, if the US government believes a foreign country violated agreements over how US-made weapons were used, the administration must draw up a report and send its findings to Congress.
The next move is up to Congress which must decide whether action should be taken against Israel or if further information is needed, the State Department said.
The United States and Italy are among nations trying to remove tens of thousands of unexploded cluster bomblets in southern Lebanon.