BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- Israel has relinquished five positions it seized in south Lebanon during the war on Hezbollah, making progress towards the implementation of Resolution 1701.
A statement by the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, UNIFIL, pointed out that Israeli troops withdrew from the areas of Bayt Leef, al-Qawzah, Ayn Ibil, Dibil and Mhaibeeb, which were turned over to the international peacekeepers.
"UNIFIL established seven new checkpoints (in the vacated areas) and carried out intensive patrolling, confirming that Israeli forces were no longer present there," the statement said.
It pointed out that the Lebanese army is to deploy later Tuesday in the vacated positions, as well as in other regions that witnessed the fiercest of the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, including Bint Jubayl and Aytarun.
According to the statement, UNIFIL has recorded a total of eight Israeli violations of Lebanese air space in the past 24 hours.
The de-mining team from UNIFIL's Chinese contingent has deactivated more than 1,260 unexploded Israeli bombs from the remnants of the 33-day war in south Lebanon.
Under Resolution 1701, UNIFIL's numbers will be increased to 15,000 troops and its mandate enlarged to be able to back the Lebanese army in extending the state's control to south Lebanon, especially the border area and the region lying between the Blue Line and the Litani River, 19 miles to the north.
Israel said earlier it will complete its withdrawal behind the Blue Line after the deployment of some 5,000 UNIFIL troops in south Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the president of the Arab parliament, Mohammed Jassem Saker of Kuwait, Tuesday joined Lebanese legislators in staging a sit-in at the parliament building in downtown Beirut to press for the lifting of Israel's sea and air blockade on Lebanon.
Saker was welcomed by Speaker Nabih Berri who orchestrated the sit-in which began Saturday and is to continue until the embargo is lifted.
