LEBANON: HIZBOLLAH TAKE CONTROL OF SOUTH LEBANON AS ISRAEL COMPLETES ITS WITHDRAWAL

Record ID: 398951

  • Title: LEBANON: HIZBOLLAH TAKE CONTROL OF SOUTH LEBANON AS ISRAEL COMPLETES ITS WITHDRAWAL
  • Date: 24th May 2000
  • Summary: MARJAYOUN, LEBANON ( MAY 24, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF HIZBOLLAH ACTIVISTS STANDING BY SIDE OF ROAD TO MAJAYOUN WITH SWEETS, AND HIZBOLLAH FLAGS DECORATING STREET 0.07 2. SV /SMV HIZBOLLAH ACTIVIST COLLECTING DONATIONS ON ROAD AND OFFERING SWEETS TO DRIVERS IN "CELEBRATION OF VICTORY" (2 SHOTS) 0.25 3. WIDE OF PEOPLE HEADING TO MARJAYOUN, TO
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MARJAYOUN AND KAFER KELA, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA773HZ01134UADGIWZJ36LWE7Z
  • Story Text: Hizbollah guerrillas have taken full control of south
    Lebanon as Israel completed its hurried withdrawal from the
    territory it occupied for 22 years.

    The 1,000 square km (400 square mile) region that
    served as a "security zone" for Israel since 1985, is now in
    the hands of Shiite Moslem guerrillas.On Wednesday (May 24)
    they were setting up roadblocks, searching for Israeli
    collaborators and taking over weapons left behind.

    Hizbollah guerrillas in cars and on foot moved into the
    Christian town of Marjayoun, the largest residential centre in
    a now defunct occupation zone and the last area to have been
    vacated by Israel and its allies.

    Church bells tolled as nervous residents were filling the
    streets of Marjayoun after a sleepless night to watch the
    arrival of the guerillas and civilians who had fled their
    homes during the occupation.

    Many of those who stayed and worked with the Israelis,
    felt bitter that they were left on their own to face an
    uncertain future.

    Hizbollah, aware of sentiments among the Christians,
    dispatched an official to try and calm their fears.

    "The Secretary General of Hizbollah has given his word and
    he will stick to it, " said Sheikh Ahmed Mourad in the the
    village of Kafer Kela.

    Israeli troops poured back over the border after
    evacuating a key base at the Beaufort Castle under artillery
    and air cover.Witnesses reported a huge explosion rocking the
    area of the castle.

    The Israeli military's withdrawal, which had been
    scheduled for July 7, was hastily brought forward when the SLA
    collapsed because of the rapid advancement of the Hizbollah.

    Israel first crossed into Lebanon in 1978 to stop attacks
    by Palestinians, hundreds of thousands of whom had been housed
    in refugee camps since the creation of the Jewish state 30
    years earlier.It set up its security zone in south Lebanon in
    1985 and armed its SLA allies to defend it.


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