Lebanese troops deploy south of Litani River

updated 12:49 a.m. ET Aug. 17, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanese troops began deploying south of the strategic Litani River early Thursday, a senior military official said, after the Israeli army stepped up its withdrawal from the south Lebanon region and handed over some of its positions to U.N. peacekeepers.

The rapid developments aimed at ending 34 days of fighting came after Lebanon’s government Wednesday agreed to deploy troops near Israel’s border for the first time in 40 years.

A senior official in the Lebanese army told The Associated Press around dawn Thursday that Lebanese troops, backed by tanks and other armored vehicles, had begun arriving south of the river in line with the U.N. cease-fire plan. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to make statements to the media.

An Associated Press reporter saw about 40 military trucks and jeeps, carrying soldiers, equipment, luggage and plastic water tanks, heading to south Lebanon at around 4 a.m. The trucks and jeeps hoisted Lebanese flags as they drove into central Beirut on their way to south Lebanon.

The Lebanese army had been assembling north of the Litani River, 18 miles from the Israeli border.

No agreement on Hezbollah disarmament
The Lebanese Cabinet decision fell short of agreement on disarming the Shiite Muslim militant group, which has insisted it has the right to defend Lebanese territory as long as Israeli troops remain in the country.

More than 50 percent of the areas Israel holds has been transferred to the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL, the Israeli army said, adding the process would occur in stages and would depend on a stronger U.N. force as well as “the ability of the Lebanese army to take effective control of the area.”

The army said it was the first time it handed over territory to the United Nations, although it had redeployed some of its forces previously.

The cease-fire plan calls for the 2,000-member U.N. force to increase to 15,000 and to be joined eventually by an equal number of Lebanese to assume control as Israeli forces withdraw.

Before dawn Thursday several hundred Israeli soldiers crossed back over the border.

Some smiled, sang and rejoiced, while others just looked relieved to be out. One soldier sat down and cried, his head buried in his arms, after reaching Israel again.

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Gaza fighting rages as U.N. call ignored Gaza fighting takes toll on children Red Cross: Israel troops ignored Gaza wounded Mummy may be 4,300-year-old queen Newsweek: With Hamas under siege, Fatah mulls options Gaza Palestinians: ‘Everywhere is dangerous’ Mourning Palestinian-Israeli friendships lost Q&A: The history behind Israel's Gaza offensive Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: