Israel withdraws from more areas in south Lebanon – UN

Israeli forces withdrew from more areas in southern Lebanon today as United Nations troops took over their positions ahead of handing them over to Lebanese army units, while officers from the world body met Israeli commanders to map out plans for patrolling the waters off Lebanon after the blockade is lifted today.

“I welcome the further withdrawal of the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) from South Lebanon in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701,” said Major-General Alain Pellegrini, Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), referring to the text which ended the 34-day conflict.

“This shows that the process is working and that regular contacts between the UNIFIL, the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) and the IDF seed results,” he added. Today, the IDF withdrew from the general area of Al Bayyadah, Tayr Harfa, Shinin, Al Jibbayn, Bustan, Yarin and Al Duhayrah.

UNIFIL set up checkpoints and deployed patrols in the areas left by the Israeli army to ensure no IDF troops remained, the Force said in a press release, adding that it expects Lebanese forces to take control of these areas in the next 24 hours.

Following Israel’s decision to lift its blockade of Lebanon at 6 p.m. Beirut local time today, UNIFIL officers met with Israeli army and navy officials to map out plans for patrolling the waters off the country, the UN said.

The UNIFIL group was led by navy Captain Francesco Sollitto of the Italian navy, and Lieutenant Colonel John Molloy of Ireland, head of UNIFIL’s Liaison group. The Italian vessels, which are already off the Lebanese coast, will monitor shipping in the area, pending the arrival of ships from Germany. The Israeli side was led by Colonel Assaf Orion, head of the Middle Eastern Policy and Liaison Department of the IDF.

On the humanitarian front, UNIFIL continued its efforts to counter the chronic water shortage in the south, with the Indian and Ghanaian battalions distributing over 90,000 litres of water to several villages in the past 24 hours. The Indian and Chinese battalions and the UNFIL Hospital also continued to provide medical assistance to local people.