Israel Begins Phased Withdrawal from Lebanon
Israeli forces start pulling back from Beirut area as government faces mounting casualties and domestic opposition to the Lebanon occupation.
Israel has begun withdrawing its forces from the Beirut area and central Lebanon, marking the first phase of a pullback from positions held since the 1982 invasion. The withdrawal comes amid growing Israeli casualties from guerrilla attacks and increasing domestic opposition to the occupation.
Defense Ministry officials announced that Israeli troops will redeploy to a security zone in southern Lebanon, maintaining control over a strip of territory along the Israeli border. The withdrawal is expected to take several months to complete.
The decision follows mounting pressure from Israeli peace movements and families of soldiers serving in Lebanon. Over 500 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the invasion began, with guerrilla attacks by Lebanese Shiite groups intensifying in recent months.
The newly formed Hezbollah organization, backed by Iran and Syria, has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on Israeli positions. Their tactics, including suicide bombings, have proven highly effective against the occupying forces.
Lebanese government officials welcomed the withdrawal but demanded a complete Israeli pullout from all Lebanese territory. Palestinian groups have vowed to continue resistance operations against Israeli forces remaining in the south.
The partial withdrawal represents a significant shift in Israeli policy, acknowledging that the original goals of the Lebanon invasion have not been achieved and that maintaining the occupation has become increasingly costly.