Syrian troops have evacuated posts in most of North Lebanon, including major bases in Tripoli, Akkar and Batroun, but continue to occupy small guard posts on Thursday around the houses of some of Syrian Army officials. Since Tuesday, some 225 Syrian military vehicles and troop carriers have transported around 3,000 Syrian soldiers from the North to the Bekaa Valley, according to Lebanese security sources. Hamat military airport in Batroun has also been abandoned. However, Syrian troops remain settled in Al-Kleiat, known as Rene Mouawad military airport, in Akkar, a few kilometers from the Lebanese-Syrian coastal border. Another Syrian post in Arida near the borderline with Syria also remains under Syrian control.The plan stated that the estimated 15,000 Syrian troops deployed in Lebanon would be redeployed to the Bekaa Valley by the end of March, with consultations to be held afterward to work out a timetable for full withdrawal to the Syrian side of the border. Yet, no time line was set for the implementation of the second step, a fact which had drawn criticism from the Lebanese opposition as well as the international community.