Israeli soldiers left the villages of Beit Lif, Al-Kawza, Dibel, Ein Ibeil and Mhaibeb. All are located near the town of Bint Jbeil, a Hizbullah terrorist stronghold in southern Lebanon where 15 IDF soldiers were killed and 60 were injured in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war.
“The UNIFIL Ghanaian Battalion established seven new checkpoints and carried out intensive patrolling in the area, confirming that IDF were no longer present there,” said the UN statement.
An IDF spokesman also confirmed the move, adding that more withdrawals were planned for the near future. It is not clear how many Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL spokesman Alexander Ivanko also would not say how much Lebanese territory remains under Israeli control.
Some 250 Lebanese army regulars arrived to beef up the UNIFIL troops shortly after the IDF quit the area, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. Lebanese soldiers also moved into Ainata and Aitaroun, two other villages in the area where heavy fighting took place.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday that he expects Israel will lift its blockade against Lebanon within the next 48 hours. Israel denied it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told the AFP news service that Israel would not lift the blockade until it is clear that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 is being implemented.
"When the Lebanese government, augmented by international forces, is ready to enforce the arms embargo against [Hizbullah]," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, "Israel will be ready to lift restrictions on movement of people and cargo."
“The UNIFIL Ghanaian Battalion established seven new checkpoints and carried out intensive patrolling in the area, confirming that IDF were no longer present there,” said the UN statement.
An IDF spokesman also confirmed the move, adding that more withdrawals were planned for the near future. It is not clear how many Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL spokesman Alexander Ivanko also would not say how much Lebanese territory remains under Israeli control.
Some 250 Lebanese army regulars arrived to beef up the UNIFIL troops shortly after the IDF quit the area, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. Lebanese soldiers also moved into Ainata and Aitaroun, two other villages in the area where heavy fighting took place.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told reporters in Cairo on Tuesday that he expects Israel will lift its blockade against Lebanon within the next 48 hours. Israel denied it.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev told the AFP news service that Israel would not lift the blockade until it is clear that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 is being implemented.
"When the Lebanese government, augmented by international forces, is ready to enforce the arms embargo against [Hizbullah]," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev, "Israel will be ready to lift restrictions on movement of people and cargo."