Lebanese troops have crossed the Litani River and are on their way to southern Lebanon Hizbullah terrorist strongholds. Some 15,000 Lebanese troops are to be sent to the area - marking the first time in three decades that the Lebanese Army is taking firm control of the southern part of its country. Among the 30 villages it has so far taken control is Marun A-Ras, where Israeli forces fought Hizbullah just a few weeks ago.
In some places, only several hundred yards separate the Lebanese forces from thousands of Israeli soldiers.
"You can see red dust in the air as [the IDF soldiers are] maneuvering their tanks," an ABC journalist reported. "Hizbullah people are behind, looking at their positions, and the Israelis are looking back, and it is places like this where the ceasefire is really being put to the test. Israeli drone aircraft fly overhead, surveying the battlefield."
IDF to Lebanese Army
Israel is preparing, with the help of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, to turn the area over to the Lebanese Army. Israel's position has been severely compromised, however, by the decision of the Lebanese cabinet, which includes two Hizbullah terrorist organization ministers, to deploy its soldiers without disarming Hizbullah.
The Lebanese government has agreed not to force Hizbullah to disarm south of the Litani River, on condition that its weapons are concealed. This violates the UN ceasefire resolution, which states in Paragraph 8 that southern Lebanon must remain free of armed groups other than the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL. However, a contradictory clause in Paragraph 3 "emphasizes [as opposed to 'calls for' - ed.] the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory... so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon."
An indication of Lebanese intentions was given by Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, who referred to Hizbullah terrorists as "brothers." "There will be no confrontation between the army and brothers in Hizbullah," he said. "That is not the army's mission... They are not going to chase or, Allah forbid, exact revenge [on Hizbullah]."
Hizbullah: No Plans to Disarm
The terrorist organization has flatly stated it will not disarm, nor does it plan to leave its positions in southern Lebanon. Many Hizbullah terrorist guerillas are from border villages, and keeping them away from their homes does not appear to be in the Lebanese plans.
Hizbullah's entrenchment in southern Lebanon for the past 20 years leaves it an essential part of society. "Hizbullah has used charity work and social welfare programs financed by Iran to win wide support throughout Lebanon," AP reported. "It continued that tradition Wednesday, saying it would help tens of thousands of Lebanese reconstruct homes that were destroyed by Israel, a move likely to deepen support among Shi'ites."
Hizbullah terrorists are likely to "put their weapons into hiding and melt away into the civilian population," a New York Times report states. The paper quoted a top terrorist guerilla, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, saying, "Just like in the past, Hizbullah had no visible military presence and there will not be any presence now."
A Hizbullah legislator, Hassan Fadlallah, told the Arabic Al Jazeera television station that his organization would not pull back north of the Litani, and that the army deployment would not affect the presence of Hizbullah.
Israel has insisted it will not leave southern Lebanon until an international force can be deployed to work alongside the Lebanese army. However, France, which has led the move for the force, has stated it wants a clearer understanding of the soldiers' mandate. In the meanwhile, France congratulated Lebanon for deploying its army in the area.
The UN resolution passed this weekend authorizes the peacekeepers to use force "to ensure the movement of aid workers and protect civilians in imminent danger, among other situations." It does not define when soldiers can open fire.
Israel already has relinquished several positions to the small UN force already operating in the area. IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni maintain, however, that they will not rely on Lebanese troops to keep Hizbullah terrorists from re-arming.
The Syrian Threat
The most serious obstacle to Israel's aim of preventing Hizbullah from re-building its arsenal and infrastructure is Syria. Foreign Minister Livni told CNN this week that Israel has evidence that Damascus already is re-arming Hizbullah.
Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy for the United States, told the Washington Post that one problem with the UN cease fire resolution is that it does not include Syria. "It does not seem likely" that the UN resolution can be carried out without Syria, Ross said.
In some places, only several hundred yards separate the Lebanese forces from thousands of Israeli soldiers.
"You can see red dust in the air as [the IDF soldiers are] maneuvering their tanks," an ABC journalist reported. "Hizbullah people are behind, looking at their positions, and the Israelis are looking back, and it is places like this where the ceasefire is really being put to the test. Israeli drone aircraft fly overhead, surveying the battlefield."
IDF to Lebanese Army
Israel is preparing, with the help of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, to turn the area over to the Lebanese Army. Israel's position has been severely compromised, however, by the decision of the Lebanese cabinet, which includes two Hizbullah terrorist organization ministers, to deploy its soldiers without disarming Hizbullah.
The Lebanese government has agreed not to force Hizbullah to disarm south of the Litani River, on condition that its weapons are concealed. This violates the UN ceasefire resolution, which states in Paragraph 8 that southern Lebanon must remain free of armed groups other than the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL. However, a contradictory clause in Paragraph 3 "emphasizes [as opposed to 'calls for' - ed.] the importance of the extension of the control of the Government of Lebanon over all Lebanese territory... so that there will be no weapons without the consent of the Government of Lebanon."
An indication of Lebanese intentions was given by Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, who referred to Hizbullah terrorists as "brothers." "There will be no confrontation between the army and brothers in Hizbullah," he said. "That is not the army's mission... They are not going to chase or, Allah forbid, exact revenge [on Hizbullah]."
Hizbullah: No Plans to Disarm
The terrorist organization has flatly stated it will not disarm, nor does it plan to leave its positions in southern Lebanon. Many Hizbullah terrorist guerillas are from border villages, and keeping them away from their homes does not appear to be in the Lebanese plans.
Hizbullah's entrenchment in southern Lebanon for the past 20 years leaves it an essential part of society. "Hizbullah has used charity work and social welfare programs financed by Iran to win wide support throughout Lebanon," AP reported. "It continued that tradition Wednesday, saying it would help tens of thousands of Lebanese reconstruct homes that were destroyed by Israel, a move likely to deepen support among Shi'ites."
Hizbullah terrorists are likely to "put their weapons into hiding and melt away into the civilian population," a New York Times report states. The paper quoted a top terrorist guerilla, Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, saying, "Just like in the past, Hizbullah had no visible military presence and there will not be any presence now."
A Hizbullah legislator, Hassan Fadlallah, told the Arabic Al Jazeera television station that his organization would not pull back north of the Litani, and that the army deployment would not affect the presence of Hizbullah.
Israel has insisted it will not leave southern Lebanon until an international force can be deployed to work alongside the Lebanese army. However, France, which has led the move for the force, has stated it wants a clearer understanding of the soldiers' mandate. In the meanwhile, France congratulated Lebanon for deploying its army in the area.
The UN resolution passed this weekend authorizes the peacekeepers to use force "to ensure the movement of aid workers and protect civilians in imminent danger, among other situations." It does not define when soldiers can open fire.
Israel already has relinquished several positions to the small UN force already operating in the area. IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni maintain, however, that they will not rely on Lebanese troops to keep Hizbullah terrorists from re-arming.
The Syrian Threat
The most serious obstacle to Israel's aim of preventing Hizbullah from re-building its arsenal and infrastructure is Syria. Foreign Minister Livni told CNN this week that Israel has evidence that Damascus already is re-arming Hizbullah.
Dennis Ross, former Middle East envoy for the United States, told the Washington Post that one problem with the UN cease fire resolution is that it does not include Syria. "It does not seem likely" that the UN resolution can be carried out without Syria, Ross said.