BEIRUT - The Lebanese army will begin its deployment south of the Litani River on Thursday in line with a UN-brokered truce that halted fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, a senior political source said on Tuesday.The source said the 15,000-strong force had started to assemble at different army bases. A security source confirmed the move but an army spokesman said he had no information. “As we speak, the army is readying the force. They will start deploying on Thursday,” the source said, adding that army units would deploy in pockets held by Israeli forces in south Lebanon only after Israeli soldiers hand over their posts to UN peacekeepers.
Lebanese Defence Minister Elias al-Murr has said the army will not disarm Hezbollah guerrillas in the south.
| Disarm? Hell, they'll escort and protect the Hezbies. As will the French. |