Israel Expects Complete Lebanon Withdrawl by Weekend
JERUSALEM — Israel's military chief said Tuesday he expects the army to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by the weekend, ending a two-month troop presence there and bolstering the cease-fire that halted a 34-day war against Hezbollah guerrillas.
The withdrawal would complete the transfer of security responsibilities along Lebanon's southern border to the Lebanese army and a beefed-up U.N. peacekeeping force that has been slowly deploying in the area.
Israel invaded Lebanon on July 12 after Hezbollah guerrillas crossed the border and killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others.
Since the U.N.-brokered cease-fire went into effect Aug. 14, Israel has maintained a limited presence in Lebanon, seeking assurances that the peacekeeping force is strong enough to secure the border and prevent Hezbollah from rearming.
Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said he could not give a timeline for completing the pullout, but that Israel is committed to fulfilling all of its obligations under the cease-fire, including a pullback to the international border.
"When the Lebanese army and international forces are ready to move in, Israel will be more than ready to move out," he said.
Under the cease-fire, a 15,000-strong U.N. force is to deploy in the south to help police the border and assist the Lebanese army in re-establishing control over Hezbollah's southern stronghold. About 5,000 international troops already have been deployed in south Lebanon, along with 9,000 Lebanese troops.
Some 150 French troops and dozens of military vehicles left Beirut on Tuesday for the south. France is contributing the second-largest contingent of 2,000 soldiers and will command the U.N. force until early next year, when Italy is to take over.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged lawmakers to back plans to send warships to patrol the Lebanese coast. Germany has offered to send up to 2,400 service personnel and lead a multinational naval force to prevent weapons smugglers from rearming Hezbollah.
Fox News
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The withdrawal would complete the transfer of security responsibilities along Lebanon's southern border to the Lebanese army and a beefed-up U.N. peacekeeping force that has been slowly deploying in the area.
Israel invaded Lebanon on July 12 after Hezbollah guerrillas crossed the border and killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others.
Since the U.N.-brokered cease-fire went into effect Aug. 14, Israel has maintained a limited presence in Lebanon, seeking assurances that the peacekeeping force is strong enough to secure the border and prevent Hezbollah from rearming.
Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said he could not give a timeline for completing the pullout, but that Israel is committed to fulfilling all of its obligations under the cease-fire, including a pullback to the international border.
"When the Lebanese army and international forces are ready to move in, Israel will be more than ready to move out," he said.
Under the cease-fire, a 15,000-strong U.N. force is to deploy in the south to help police the border and assist the Lebanese army in re-establishing control over Hezbollah's southern stronghold. About 5,000 international troops already have been deployed in south Lebanon, along with 9,000 Lebanese troops.
Some 150 French troops and dozens of military vehicles left Beirut on Tuesday for the south. France is contributing the second-largest contingent of 2,000 soldiers and will command the U.N. force until early next year, when Italy is to take over.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged lawmakers to back plans to send warships to patrol the Lebanese coast. Germany has offered to send up to 2,400 service personnel and lead a multinational naval force to prevent weapons smugglers from rearming Hezbollah.
Fox News
I have edited this a bit to try to make it shorter. If you would like to read the full article on Foxnews.com go to this link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,214505,00.html?sPage=fnc.world/mideast
thanks, and enjoy!
posted by Sara @ 10:59 PM
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