Israel begins pullout from Lebanese outposts

JERUSALEM, MAY 18. Israeli troops in southern Lebanon have begun evacuating outposts there in preparation for an overall pullout from the area by July.

Two outposts well inside the nine-mile-wide strip of territory controlled by the Israelis were turned over this week to the South Lebanon Army, or SLA, the Israeli-backed militia in the area. Other Israeli positions are being emptied of heavy equipment so they can be evacuated quickly.

On Tuesday, a coastal outpost that had included a naval radar station at Ras Bayada, on the north-western edge of the Israeli- held zone, was evacuated. And on Monday, the Israelis left another outpost near the village of Taibe. ``At this stage we've handed over forward positions to the SLA,'' said a senior Israeli officer who spoke on condition of anonymity. ``These outposts are very close to villages where the SLA men live, and will enable them to defend themselves.'' The handovers appear to be designed to enable members of the Israeli-backed militia to continue functioning as locally based armed groups after the Israeli withdrawal.

But the future of the SLA fighters, who have been condemned as traitors by the Lebanese Government, remains unclear. The United Nations, which is likely to take on an enhanced peacekeeping role in the area is said to be pressing for a disbanding of the militia.

- New York Times

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Section  : International
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