US envoy Amos Hochstein said on Monday that he was happy to see the Israeli army withdraw from the western sector of Lebanon back to Israel.
In a news conference in Lebanon following meetings with top Lebanese officials, Hochstein said these withdrawals would continue until the Israeli army was completely out of the country.
The envoy met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun.
The Lebanese army announced Monday that its troops began deploying in Naqoura, southern Lebanon, as the Israeli army withdrew. This comes after Israel handing back two other southern towns, Khiam and Shamaa, since the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect over a month ago.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the development.
The deployment coincided with a meeting of the committee overseeing the ceasefire agreement in Ras al-Naqoura, which is home to the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission. The meeting was attended by Hochstein, who arrived in Beirut on Monday. Hochstein helped broker the ceasefire that ended the 14-month war.
The Israeli military started (its) withdrawal from Naqoura, most of the western sector and back into Israel proper today, Hochstein told reporters in Beirut following his meeting with Berri.
The Lebanese army will be the only entity who provides security for the people of south Lebanon, Hochstein said.
After the deployment is completed in Naqoura, specialized units will survey the area to remove unexploded ordnance, the army said, urging residents to avoid the area and follow army instructions.
