Some 200 Israeli soldiers currently remain in the field in Lebanon. Military sources reported that the soldiers would begin to leave the area Saturday night. In addition Peretz issued an order to "hold an aggressive line" along the Lebanese border and to ban Hizbullah led demonstrations.
The Israeli approval comes following reports in the Lebanese newspaper A-Nahar that the commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, General Alain Pellegrini, notified Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that the completion of the withdrawal would take place in the coming days.
"General Pellegrini has engaged with the Lebanese Prime Minister to inform him that the Israeli army has committed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon on Sunday," stated a Lebanese government official.
During the past few weeks an international force has been in place along the Israeli-Lebanese border, conducting ongoing border surveillance patrols and monitoring the entrance of the Lebanese Army into the area.
The Israeli approval comes following reports in the Lebanese newspaper A-Nahar that the commander of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, General Alain Pellegrini, notified Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora that the completion of the withdrawal would take place in the coming days.
"General Pellegrini has engaged with the Lebanese Prime Minister to inform him that the Israeli army has committed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon on Sunday," stated a Lebanese government official.
During the past few weeks an international force has been in place along the Israeli-Lebanese border, conducting ongoing border surveillance patrols and monitoring the entrance of the Lebanese Army into the area.