ISRAEL: Israeli forces pull out of southern Lebanon in the last stage of withdrawal

Record ID: 396115

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli forces pull out of southern Lebanon in the last stage of withdrawal
  • Date: 1st October 2006
  • Summary: (W5) AVIVIM, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 1, 2006) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF TROOPS AND TANKS CLOSE UP TANK
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA9N76428XHN5KAAJMUV01BWQ3U
  • Story Text: Israeli forces began leaving southern Lebanon on Sunday (October 1), in the last phase of their withdrawal under a U.N. resolution to end a war with Hizbollah guerrillas, an Israeli security source said.
    Israel had already pulled out most of the 10,000 troops who entered Lebanon during 34 days of fighting triggered by Hizbollah's abduction of two soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.
    "We are keeping our part to leave Lebanon the way it was supposed to be, by the resolution of the UN 1701. The responsibility on Lebanon right now, it's in Lebanon's government's hand, and of course the UN," said Major Zvika Golan, of the Israeli Defence Force, as tanks rolled across the border.
    A ceasefire took hold on August 14 to end a war between U.S.-backed Israel and Iranian-supported Hizbollah that sent shock waves through the Middle East.
    Israeli defence officials said they hoped the last of the forces would be able to leave before the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, at dusk on Sunday.
    Around 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 157 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed in the fighting -- the worst since Israel's 1982 invasion. Israeli forces had withdrawn from Lebanon in 2000 after 22 years of occupation.
    Israel's army did not comment on when the pullout would be completed. Israeli media said only a few hundred troops with some armoured vehicles remained on Saturday (September 30).
    Lebanese officials said the commander of U.N. peacekeepers in Lebanon, Major General Alain Pellegrini, had informed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that Israel planned to complete its withdrawal by Sunday. Israeli officials had said they hoped to pull out all troops by last weekend, but this was delayed while discussions with the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on rules of engagement continued.
    Israel is worried that the peacekeepers and Lebanese army would not end the presence of Hizbollah near its border.
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