IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon begins

VIDEO - Withdrawal underway: At 6 a.m. Tuesday a large force of paratroopers which operated in the central region of southern Lebanon returned to Israel, marking the start of the withdrawal of Israel Defense Forces from southern Lebanon, even before the entry of the multinational force. The force entered the depth of the region on Friday and Saturday night via helicopters. Its fighters hid in the area and operated against Katyusha launchers and Hizbullah forces in the area, using anti-tank missiles, among other things. The force was about to progress into the Lebanese territory toward the Tyre area on Sunday night, but an order issued by the prime minister halted the operation, even before the ceasefire came into force Monday morning. The paratroopers force operated in a special method: It avoided entering villages in the area, and instead hid in a mountainous area, near Katyusha launching areas, and operated against Hizbullah terrorists. And there was another mission, no less difficult: The force brought the remains of five airmen killed when their helicopter was downed by a Hizbullah. On Monday the body of Air Force mechanic Keren Tendler, who was on the chopper, was found some 200 meters (656 feet) from the wreckage. Strong stench of bodies near Hizbullah bunkers Both sides honored the ceasefire which went into effect on 8 a.m. Monday. On Monday afternoon, the large force was ordered to redeploy in preparation for handing over the captured territory to the Lebanese army and the UN peacekeeping forces. Soldiers and officers maneuvered their way towards the border while trying to avoid confrontation with Hizbullah cells, landmines and fire from isolated clusters of houses scattered in the vicinity of southern Lebanese villages. In some villages, whole streets were flattened. Stench filled our nostrils as we neared Hizbullah bunkers, a sign of the losses suffered by the Shiite group. Soldiers sounded skeptical. "That's not the end of the war with Hizbullah," said officer Kobi. "We need to fight them another round, and the question is when that will happen." Their skepticism did little to hide their happiness to return home, to Israel. On Monday night, four mortar shells landed in southern Lebanon. IDF forces are still operating inside Lebanon, and the fire may have been directed at them. However, the forces did not return fire. Sources in the IDF and the political echelon estimated that Hizbullah would try and hurt the soldiers before the withdrawal is completed in the coming days.

IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon begins

(VIDEO) Large force of paratroopers is first to return to Israel, after soldiers operated deep inside Lebanese territory. Ynet correspondent accompanying forces reports of strong stench of bodies coming from Hizbullah bunkers