Israel Matzav

There are Lebanese army troops in southern Lebanon... but they 'fight' like the French

The IDF discovered Lebanese army troops in southern Lebanon yesterday. But they also discovered that they 'fight' like the French: they surrendered and asked to be evacuated. This took place in Marjayoun, one of the few Christian towns in southern Lebanon, which is located in the eastern sector.

According to Al-AP, UN 'peacekeepers' were dispatched this morning to evacuate about 350 Lebanese soldiers and police detained by IDF forces in Marjayoun. According to Lebanese 'security officials,' the 'peacekeepers will escort the Lebanese troops out of their Marjayoun barracks in a convoy that will take them into government-controlled territory further north.

Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat said Israeli troops entered the garrison in Marjayoun on Thursday afternoon "and asked to share it with Lebanese troops there." He said the troops refused to share (sounds a lot like my 4-year old and my 2-year old) and wanted to leave, but the Israelis did not let them.

"We consider them captives," Fatfat said, adding that the government was trying to win their release. If that's the case, I wonder what he would be willing to trade for them. And for the record, that's really what the paper says his name is "Fatfat." I did not make that up.

Lebanese and Arab media reports said that France and the United States intervened to arrange for the evacuation of the Lebanese troops.

There are more than 1,000 Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon conducting 'security duties,' but apparently no one can find them and Hezbullah guerrillas actually control the south.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:41 PM