DEBKAfile: Nasrallah is transferring his entire fighting force from northern Lebanon to the South. | Well, the gunnies are moving back. He'll stay put where it's safe. |
The rockets and guns were silent up to Tuesday morning, Day 2 of the ceasefire – although during the night Hizballah fired six mortar rounds at Israeli troops who returned fire without suffering casualties. However, the swelling numbers of returning Hizballah fighters with their families are jamming the roads south – also blocking the deployment of the 15,000-strong Lebanese force ordered by UN SC resolution 1701 to take over the South and disarm Hizballah. The Hizballah are moving back into their still undamaged bunkers and fortified civilian dwellings opposite the Israeli border. | Getting ready for round two |
Therefore, while thousands of displaced people in Israel and Lebanon head back to their ravaged homes, DEBKAfileÂ’s military sources report trepidation about the durability of the ceasefire which Israel declared Monday morning. Everyone is talking about the inevitability of a second round. Hours after the ceasefire went into effect Monday morning, 6 Hizballah fighters were shot dead in three incidents with Israeli troops.
Israeli forces inside Lebanon will hold their positions until a strengthened international force and the Lebanese army take over. The discharge of reservists called up for the war begins at the end of the week although the Lebanese defense minister promised to move his men into position by then only north of the Litani. Northern Israelis towns and farms face immense reconstruction and recovery projects after HizballahÂ’s 33-day rocket blitz.
After night fell, Hizballah staged victory celebrations in Beirut, while its leader, Hassan Nasrallah proclaimed a “historic and strategic victory” over Israel. Hizballah fighters in uniform directed the traffic in Beirut and took up police duties. Nasrallah also promised his men would help repair destroyed villages in the south. |