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Lebanese Army Moves South
MARJAYOUN, Lebanon - Lebanese troops, tanks ...tanks? Who knew? ... and armored vehicles began deploying south of the strategic Litani River early Thursday after the Israeli army stepped up its withdrawal from the region and handed over some of its positions to U.N. peacekeepers. The rapid developments aimed at ending 34 days of fighting came after Lebanon's government agreed Wednesday to deploy troops near Israel's border for the first time in 40 years. Ten armored carriers mounted on flatbed trucks drove across a newly installed bridge over the Litani at its mouth on the Mediterranean coastline, about 18 miles north of the Israeli border. Trucks and jeeps mounted with Lebanese flags also carried soldiers south toward the port city of Tyre. Troops were expected to be brought in by sea to the Tyre port later in the deployment. Further south, flatbed trucks carrying 20 tanks arrived in Marjayoun, a key town near the Israeli border that was briefly occupied by Israeli forces during their incursion into Lebanon. They were accompanied by a dozen trucks loaded with troops and hoisting Lebanese flags. The army deployment will continue for a few days "to spread Lebanese government authority over all Lebanese territory, including south of the Litani River," a senior military official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The Lebanese army has been preparing troops for the past few days. The U.N. cease-fire plan calls for the force to reach 15,000 and to be joined eventually by an equal number of international peacekeepers to patrol the region between the Israeli border and the Litani River. Despite continued division over disarming Hezbollah, the Cabinet decision to deploy Lebanese troops was a major step toward meeting demands that the guerrillas be removed from Israel's northern frontier. It would also mark the extension of government sovereignty over the whole country for the first time since 1969, when the Lebanese government sanctioned Palestinian cross-border attacks on Israel. Mebbe they have learned something since 1969? The Lebanese government, which includes two Hezbollah ministers, met for the first time since the cease-fire took hold Monday, after two postponements because of divisions over Hezbollah's arms. The guerrillas, who insist they have the right to defend Lebanon, have resisted pressure to give them up or even withdraw them from the border area. Aridi stressed that there will be no authority or weapons in south Lebanon other than those of the state. "If any weapon is found, even the brothers in Hezbollah have said 'Let it be in the hands of the army. No problem,'" he said.
French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said France is willing to lead the enlarged U.N. force until at least February. Lead, yes. Provide troops? Je regrete, Messeur. Yes, I know that's spelled wrong. That's what you get from Berlitz. Posted by: Bobby 2006-08-17 |
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