Members of the Ceasefire Implementation Mechanism in Lebanon discussed yesterday the “military technical plans” for the “gradual withdrawal” of the Israeli army from the south of the Mediterranean country, as stipulated in the cessation of hostilities agreement reached on November 27.
According to a joint statement issued by the embassies of the United States, France and the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL), representatives of this mechanism - which also includes the Israeli and Lebanese armies - met yesterday at a UN position in the town of Naqoura (south).
The group discussed the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all parts of the south of the Litani River, which runs up to some 29 kilometers north of the border with Israel, as well as the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces from the southwest to the southeast.
“The Lebanese Armed Forces have been preparing to carry out this operation for the past month, removing more than 10.000 pieces of unexploded ordnance, with the support of UNIFIL, which would otherwise prevent the safe deployment of troops,” the mechanism said in the statement.
The operation began on Monday, when Israeli army units began to withdraw south of the Blue Line, the dividing line between Israel and Lebanon.
“The Lebanese Armed Forces are the sole institution for the defence and security of Lebanon, and the mechanism is working closely with the leadership of the Lebanese Armed Forces to support their actions,” the statement said, without providing further details.
Yesterday, American mediator Amos Hochstein said from Beirut that the Israeli troops still in southern Lebanon They will gradually withdraw until they are “completely out” of Lebanese territory, while acknowledging that this process “is not easy.”
This is in compliance with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the terrorist group Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27 and stipulates a 60-day period from then on for Israeli troops that had participated in the invasion of southern Lebanon to withdraw.
Agencies contributed to this Aurora article.