The Lebanese authorities are ready to deploy additional units of the national armed forces in the south of the country if hostilities between Israel and the Shiite Hezbollah movement cease. This was stated by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to Agence France-Presse.
"Currently there are 4.5 thousand soldiers in the south of the country, and we want to increase their number to 7-11 thousand." - he said.
The Lebanese Prime Minister confirmed that since September 30, Israeli armed forces have periodically entered the country. “There were advances and retreats, [the Israeli military] went in and out [from Lebanese territory],” Mikati said. On September 23, Israel launched Operation Arrows of the North against the formations of the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, during which it carries out massive strikes on military facilities of the organization. The stated goal is to create safe conditions in the northern border areas of the Jewish state so that tens of thousands of residents can return there. As a result of one of the Israeli strikes on September 27, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrullah was killed in Beirut. On the night of October 1, the Israeli army announced a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese Prime Minister confirmed that since September 30, Israeli armed forces have periodically entered the country. “There were advances and retreats, [the Israeli military] went in and out [from Lebanese territory],” Mikati said. On September 23, Israel launched Operation Arrows of the North against the formations of the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, during which it carries out massive strikes on military facilities of the organization. The stated goal is to create safe conditions in the northern border areas of the Jewish state so that tens of thousands of residents can return there. As a result of one of the Israeli strikes on September 27, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrullah was killed in Beirut. On the night of October 1, the Israeli army announced a ground operation in the border areas of southern Lebanon.
