Image Credit: BBSNews.
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) 2006-08-22
UNIFIL via BBSNews 2006-08-22 -- Naqoura, Lebanon. The process of Lebanese Army deployment inside the territory vacated by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) continues, in accordance with Resolution 1701. It is conducted in close coordination and with the support of UNIFIL.
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Area map showing Israel, Lebanon and surrounding countries.
Image Credit: BBSNews. |
The Israeli Army withdrawal and the deployment of the Lebanese Army continue in accordance with the plan and timeline agreed during a third trilateral meeting of the Force Commander UNIFIL and the senior representatives of the Lebanese and Israeli Army, which took place on 20 August 2006 in Ras Naqoura.
Yesterday, Lebanese army deployed to areas taken over by UNIFIL from the IDF the day earlier, in general areas of east-south and east-west of Bayt Yahoun and south along the road to Kunin. As of yesterday the Lebanese army forward positions in South Lebanon go along the line of Buyit As Sayyid, Majda Zun, Zibqin, Yatar, Rshaf, At Tiri, Kunin, Mhaibeb, Shaqra, Majdal Silm, Qabrikha, Gandouriyah, and Frun.
The cessation of hostilities generally was maintained in the past 24 hours. There was however, two air violations by Israeli jets recorded yesterday. There was also a clash reported between IDF and Hezbollah members east of Shamaha. Details are still to be established.
A team of Mine Action Coordination Center carried out controlled demolition of 445 unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the areas of Yohmor, Smayieh, Ras Al Ain, Tibnin and Aita Al Jabal.
UNIFIL continued intensive ground and air patrolling throughout its area of operation to assess the situation on the ground and to monitor the cessation of hostilities.
UNIFIL distributed 45,000 liters of drinking water to villages of El Khiam, Kafer Kela and Ebel Es Saqi.
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was created in 1978 as an interim force to observe the Israeli withdrawal in Lebanon. On March 11th, 1978 Palestiniain Liberation Organizations militants claimed responsibility for an attack that killed and wounded many Israelis. As a result, Israel invaded southern Lebanon proceeding to occupy much of the south of the country.According to a UNIFIL document and showing that the UN Security Council acted with dispatch in the matter during 1978: "On 19 March, the Council adopted resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978), in which it called upon Israel immediately to cease its military action and withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory. It also decided on the immediate establishment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The first UNIFIL troops arrived in the area on 23 March 1978."
Israel largely withdrew from Lebanon in 2000 but repeated violations by both sides documented by UNIFIL, especially during 2005 and early 2006 led to increased tensions. This coupled with the Israeli incursion into Gaza devolved into a fierce confrontation between militants and Israeli forces in July 2006. Currently UNIFIL is operating under a new resolution pertaining to this latest Israel-Lebanon war, UN resolution 1701 (2006) calling for a cease-fire.
These dispatches from UNIFIL offer an impartial glimpse into what is happening on the ground in Lebanon.
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