South Lebanon liberated today
Lebanon-Israel, Military, 5/24/2000

On Wednesday at dawn, the last Israeli soldier left South Lebanon.

And it is also today that the UN secretary general delegate Terry Larsen will arrive in Beirut in a new and decisive mission in order to materialize the content of the UN report to make sure of the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon and to furnish for the new mission of UNIFIL.

Larsen is accompanied in his mission by a delegation of international diplomatic and military specialists and map experts from the UN.

However, the military and diplomatic condition in Lebanon before Tuesday midnight and before Israel's complete withdrawal from Lebanon was as follows: - Lebanon announced, by the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, its denunciation that Shebaa farms were not included within the context of UN resolution 425. The Lebanese President added in this regard that " there is still a main and large gap which is to force Israel to release all Lebanese detainees held in its prisons ."

- The Lebanese Prime Minister salim al-Hoss stressed cooperation with the UN while the speaker of the Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri stressed continued " diplomatic" battle to restore back Shebaa farms, and the Hizbullah party stressed continued resistance for the sake of Shebaa farms and the release of the Lebanese detainees inside Israel."

- Meantime, Syrian sources stressed continued resistance as far as Shebaa farms are occupied.

- On the UN level, the UN Security council adopted the UN Secretary General report and asked him to continue the implementating the content of this report, stressing cooperation of all sides with the UN

- The US has started to pressure towards sending the Lebanese army to the South, stressing the need of cooperation among all parties concerned with the UN

- France is still awaiting for sending new forces to South Lebanon, and asked Syria not to make any thing that might be considered " provocative. "

- Israel has escalated its warnings against Syria, Lebanon and the Hizbullah party, in compensation for the pressing atmospheres the Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak is facing inside Israel, amid the rising political and press criticism against the Israeli government in Israel's " treason" to the " South Lebanese army," or over the " humiliating withdrawal" from Lebanon, according to the Israeli press.

Amid all these atmospheres tens of new villages and towns in the western and eastern sectors of South Lebanon were liberated and the flow of Lebanese citizens returning back to the liberated areas continued and only left in the area a strip between al-Aysheyah and Marjyoun.

However, the most remarkable development which took place on Tuesday is the complete " dismemberment " of the " South Lebanese army" militia whose leader Antoine Lahd returned back from France to Israel.

While the number of SLA militias who surrendered themselves to the Lebanese resistance and army was estimated at 1250, more than one half of the " SLA," some 5,000 members of the SLA and their families resorted on Tuesday to Beranit ( good wall) crossing and left behind their private cars at the Lebanese side of the border and entered Israel.

Simultaneously other 2500 SLA agents and other civilians working with Israel and their families from Marjyoun area headed towards al-Matallah gate and entered Israel.

An Israeli military source said that more than 2500 SLA members entered Israel on Tuesday. It is the first time in which the Israel receive Arab refugees since its foundation in 1948.

Also a remarkable incident was the release of 150 Lebanese detainees from al-Khayam detention camp who were taken to Beirut on Tuesday late night and they were welcomed joyfully at Shoura center ( Hizbullah) in Harret Hreik.

In the early hours today ( Wednesday), Israeli political sources said that the Israeli army might complete its withdrawal from South Lebanon in the early hours of today's morning, and therefore ending 22 years of occupation.

Meantime, the Israeli occupation forces evacuated al-Shaqif castle under the fire of its artillery and jets bombardment.

Huge explosions had shaken the area, while news reports spoke about the explosion of a great part of the castle, others talked about destroying military equipment during the evacuation process.

The Israeli occupation forces also exploded al-Rayhan barracks after evacuating it and both al-Ghezlan and al-Debshe positions.

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese president: Israel's withdrawal not sufficient for just peace   (5/23/2000)
  Israel evacuates more villages in South Lebanon; Six Lebanese civilians killed   (5/23/2000)
  Shahak and south Lebanon   (5/23/2000)
  Lebanese towns return back to homeland   (5/22/2000)
  Israel continues bombarding South Lebanon   (5/22/2000)
  The speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri   (5/20/2000)

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