The last Israeli forces left Lebanon today as IDF officials confirmed that the army withdrew the last of its troops from Lebanon.
Israel had been gradually reducing its troop presence since the Aug. 14 cease-fire from a peak of 30,000 during the fighting to several hundred at the end.
As I reported, the Israelis had been reluctant to withdraw the last of their troops. They cited disagreements over the deployment of Lebanese and U.N. forces in southern Lebanon and the complete disregard of the UN mandate to enforce an arms embargo and disarm Hezbollah.
In the end, they apparently faced that fact that the UN is going to do nothing of the kind, especially after French tanks interfered with IDF pursuit of some of the Hezbollah troops who raided an Israeli armory yesterday.
It's only a ceasefire violation if Israel does it, you see.
The Israelis and the IDF have some major reconstruction and soul searching to do, both militarily and politically. This is a good time for it.
Do you have a link to the story about French tanks blocking the IDF? This is the first I've heard of it. Thanks.
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