Lebanese Fear Continued Israeli Occupation Of South
Joseph S. Mayton - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Beirut, Lebanon (AHN) - In a surprise move, Israel on Tuesday night announced its troops could remain in southern Lebanon positions beyond the two-week deadline set in the UN resolution reached August 11. Israel is concerned that Hizbollah came out of the month long conflict more emboldened than ever. Since the resolution was agreed, Hizbollah has said it will continue to attack Israeli troops that remain on Lebanese soil, while Israel has been adamant that it will pursue military action if the militant group does not disarm. With over 500,000 people streaming back to their southern Lebanon homes, it is unlikely that Hizbollah will launch a full-scale attack on Israel for fear of civilian casualties. UNIFIL, the UN force in southern Lebanon is still attempting to put together a strong military force to act as a buffer between Israel and Hizbollah. The Lebanese military has yet to receive orders to head south as part of the ceasefire agreement. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a letter published by The Washington Post, said the UN peace plan for Lebanon would be difficult to implement, but was a "good first step" to a lasting peace in the Middle East.
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