Head of Israeli army resigns

JERUSALEM, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, who commanded Israeli forces during last year's war in Lebanon, resigned Tuesday as army chief of staff.

Moshe Kaplinsky, Halutz's deputy, will act as interim head of the Israeli Defense Force, Haaretz reported.

Halutz had promised to step down if he was found responsible for bungling operations during the fighting with Hezbollah. Some senior officers welcomed his resignation.

"The time has really come," one general involved in the war told Haaretz.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he tried to convince Halutz not to resign and accepted his decision with regret.

The Winograd Commission released a report this month that included testimony from officers who said IDF senior staff recommended military action too quickly, did not prepare properly and did not have an exit strategy.

Halutz resisted calls for his resignation during the fall. The war devastated Lebanon, left scores of Israelis dead from rocket attacks and failed to destroy Hezbollah.