Lebanese PM vows to secure full Israeli withdrawal

BEIRUT - Lebanon will continue its political and diplomatic efforts to secure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all Lebanese territories, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday on the start of the Israeli withdrawal.

During a visit to the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Salam called the latest development "a national moment with significant political and moral dimensions," and stressed that the government will continue all political and diplomatic efforts to secure a full Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories.

Salam also assured residents of southern Lebanon that the country had begun mobilizing all its capabilities to facilitate their return home. He said that the Lebanese army and security forces were present to protect returning civilians and that authorities would continue to reopen roads, clear rubble and restore essential services.

Preparations were underway to restore water, electricity and telecommunication services and to provide temporary housing and other necessities during the transitional period, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces began withdrawing from parts of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, enabling the Lebanese army to start deploying there. The move marked the first implementation of the "pilot areas" arrangement under a US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel aimed at facilitating Israeli withdrawals and expanding the Lebanese state authority in southern Lebanon.