UN peacekeeping force hails Israeli withdrawal

BEIRUT- The leader of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon hailed as “significant progress” the pullout of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon yesterday, but said the pullout would not be complete until Israeli soldiers left one remaining divided border village.

“Significant progress has been achieved today,” Maj. Gen.Alain Pellegrini, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, said in a statement.He said the Israeli army had withdrawn its troops from the south except for the area of Ghajar.”I expect that they will leave this area in the course of the week, thus completing the withdrawal in line with the (UN) resolution 1701,” he said.Ghajar is a divided border village where an unspecified number of Israeli soldiers remained in the Lebanese section, according to Israeli reports.”UNIFIL is also in close contact with the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) to facilitate a speedy withdrawal from the area of Ghajar,” a UNIFIL statement said.The statement said peacekeepers are “in the process of confirming” that there are no Israeli troops present in the areas that Israel declared as vacated.It said Lebanese army troops will begin taking over the area Monday (today) morning.It added that after a full Israeli withdrawal, UNIFIL in cooperation with Lebanese army would inspect the entire length of the border to ensure that there are no violations of the so-called blue line.Under the cease-fire resolution that ended the 34-day Hezbollah-Israel war on August 14, Lebanese troops and UN forces are to set up a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon, which borders Israel.Nampa-APGen.Alain Pellegrini, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, said in a statement.He said the Israeli army had withdrawn its troops from the south except for the area of Ghajar.”I expect that they will leave this area in the course of the week, thus completing the withdrawal in line with the (UN) resolution 1701,” he said.Ghajar is a divided border village where an unspecified number of Israeli soldiers remained in the Lebanese section, according to Israeli reports.”UNIFIL is also in close contact with the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) to facilitate a speedy withdrawal from the area of Ghajar,” a UNIFIL statement said.The statement said peacekeepers are “in the process of confirming” that there are no Israeli troops present in the areas that Israel declared as vacated.It said Lebanese army troops will begin taking over the area Monday (today) morning.It added that after a full Israeli withdrawal, UNIFIL in cooperation with Lebanese army would inspect the entire length of the border to ensure that there are no violations of the so-called blue line.Under the cease-fire resolution that ended the 34-day Hezbollah-Israel war on August 14, Lebanese troops and UN forces are to set up a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon, which borders Israel.Nampa-AP