Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office announced that international forces would be replacing Israeli positions over Lebanon’s air and seaports beginning Thursday evening. The announcement bows to a demand by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and threats by Lebanese officials to use Lebanon’s army to break the blockade in 48 hours.
“US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, last night and this morning, informed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that international forces are ready to take up control positions over Lebanon’s seaports and airports,” Olmert’s office said. “Therefore, it was agreed that tomorrow, Israel will leave the aforesaid control positions and, at the same time, the international forces will enter.”
“Today,” the statement continue, “German experts and their equipment are expected to arrive at Beirut International Airport. The Lebanese Government and the UN have also agreed that German naval forces will deploy opposite the Lebanese coast.”
The announcement came on the heels of a Lebanese threat to break the blockade. "We will wait out the time frame outlined by Koffi Annan,” Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh said, “48 hours - and if the situation is solved, we will thank him, and if not, the Lebanese government will take the necessary steps and break the blockade.”
The announcement elicited outrage from the families of kidnapped IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser – who say the blockade should not be lifted until their children are released from Hizbullah captivity. The families worry that once the blockade is lifted, the soldiers will be smuggled out of Lebanon.