Security Council to OK Report on Lebanon Withdrawal
The United Nations Security Council reached tentative agreement late Saturday to endorse a U.N. verification that Israel had completed its withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
A council statement, which was expected to be formally adopted early today, came after the Lebanese government insisted that Israel still occupies part of its territory.
A day after Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss rejected the U.N. verification of Israel’s pullout, he said Saturday that his government was committed to cooperating with the United Nations. But he reiterated that the country “insists on recovering every inch of its territory.”
Hezbollah guerrillas on Saturday criticized as inaccurate and hasty U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s announcement Friday that Israel had completed its withdrawal in accordance with a Security Council resolution.
A Hezbollah statement warned that the group, which fought Israel for nearly two decades, would continue to do so if the pullout is not completed.
Security Council Resolution 425 demanded Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon. The Jewish state announced its withdrawal May 24.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
