The Israeli army confirmed on early today that its troops have handed over
some of their positions in southern Lebanon to UN peacekeeping force, according
to a report carried by local newspaper Ha'aretz on its website.
"Following a joint agreement of members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF),
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebano(UNIFIL) and the Lebanese army, the
process of transferring authority has begun," the report quoted an IDF statement
as saying.
According to the IDF statement, more than 50 percent of the areas Israel
holds have been transferred already. The area extends north and east of the town
of Marjayoun in the east of south Lebanon and another area further west.
"The process will be carried out in stages and is conditional on the
reinforcement of UNIFIL and the ability of the Lebanese army to take effective
control of the area," the statement said. The 34-day long Israeli-Hezbollah
conflict ended on Monday morning after the UN resolution 1701 was adopted by the
governments of Israel and Lebanon respectively.
Resolution 1701, unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on Friday,
calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UN
force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of
southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
Under the agreement, Israel was to transfer control of its positions in
southern Lebanon to the UN force, who would then turn it over to the Lebanese
army. The aim is to create a buffer zone free of Hezbollah fighters between
Lebanon's Litani River, some 30km inside Lebanon, and the UN-drawn border.
There are currently some 2,000 UNIFIL troops in the area, according to the
report.
