the Israeli army began to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, a first since the ceasefire came into force

In accordance with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli army has carried out a first withdrawal of troops from Lebanese soil, announced Wednesday, December 11, the American Central Command for the Middle East (Centcom ).

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The head of Centcom, General Erik Kurilla, was “present at the implementation and monitoring headquarters during the still ongoing first withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces and their replacement by the Lebanese Armed Forces in Khiam, Lebanon, as part of the agreement” ceasefire, Centcom said in a statement.

“This is an important first step in implementing a lasting cessation of hostilities that lays the foundation for continued progress”declared General Kurilla, quoted by the press release.

Achieving “stability in the south of the country”

The Israeli army for its part said on “completed [sa] mission in Khiam in southern Lebanon ». “In accordance with the terms of the ceasefire and in coordination with the United States, soldiers of the Lebanese Armed Forces are being deployed in the area,” at the same time as the blue helmets of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNIFIL), she said.

The Prime Minister of the Cedar Country, Najib Mikati, “greeted” on X the efforts of the Lebanese army to achieve “stability in the south of the country”. According to him, the Lebanese soldiers were deployed in Khiam as well as in Marjeyoun, another town in this region, not mentioned by the United States and Israel in their press releases. This deployment “represents a fundamental step”emphasized Mr. Mikati.

A truce ended on November 27 an open war of more than two months between the Lebanese movement Hezbollah and Israel, which left nearly 4,000 dead in Lebanon and devastated strongholds of the pro-Iranian formation. The ceasefire agreement provides for the withdrawal within sixty days of the Israeli army from Lebanon and stipulates that only the Lebanese army and peacekeepers must be deployed in the south of the country, bordering the north of Lebanon. 'Israel.