Lebanese army says it begins assuming missions in southern Lebanon after cease-fire

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Lebanese army said Thursday that it began assuming its missions in southern Lebanon, a day after a cease-fire deal with Israel.

A military statement said that army units began to assume their missions in the south, the Bekaa region, and southern Beirut, including setting up checkpoints, opening roads, and detonation of unexploded ordnance.

"These missions are part of the army’s ongoing efforts to keep pace with the movement of displaced people, help them return to their villages and towns, and maintain their security and safety,” it added.

The army said these missions come as the deployment of its forces is being boosted south of the Litani River.

A cease-fire deal between Lebanon and Israel took effect on Wednesday to end over 14 months of fighting between the Israeli army and Hezbollah group.

Under the terms of the cease-fire, Israel will withdraw its forces south of the Blue Line de facto border in a phased manner while the Lebanese army deploys its forces in southern Lebanon within a period that does not exceed 60 days.

Implementation of the agreement will be overseen by the US and France, but details on enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.

More than 3,800 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon and over 1 million displaced since October last year, according to Lebanese health authorities.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar