| Israel withdrew the bulk of its remaining troops from Lebanon after its war with Hezbollah. The pull-out, which did not include part of the eastern village of Rajar, for which security arrangements have still to be negotiated, was confirmed by United Nations' troops, who have been taking up positions in southern Lebanon in support of the country's army, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1701. But Dan Halutz, the Israeli army's chief of staff, warned his forces would strike again if Hezbollah sought to rebuild its positions near the border. General Halutz also raised the prospect of a broad ground offensive in Gaza to try to stop Palestinian militants from firing homemade rockets into Israel. |