BEIRUT: The United Nations General Assembly has reiterated its call on Israel to compensate Lebanon over damages caused during the July-August 2006 war.

A statement issued by the Environment Ministry Friday said the decision was made Thursday during a session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

It said the General Assembly reiterated its request that the Israeli government assume responsibility for providing “prompt and adequate compensation” to Lebanon and other countries directly affected by the 2006 oil spill that resulted from repeated Israeli airstrikes on the Jiyye power plant, south Lebanon.

The ministry said 165 countries voted in favor of the draft resolution.

Eight countries voted against the resolution – including Israel, the U.S., Canada and Australia – while six countries abstained from voting and 14 nations were absent, according to the statement.

The leakage of more than 10,000 tons of heavy fuel oil from the Jiyye power plant during the 2006 conflict has been described as Lebanon's worst-ever environmental disaster.