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Most of the Lebanese Soldiers Deployed in South Lebanon to Dismantle Hizbullah Are Shiite
(Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) Col. (ret.) Dr. Jacques Neriah - While the Lebanese army has reportedly seized a number of weapons depots in south Lebanon belonging to Hizbullah and has removed some of its fortified positions in southern Lebanon, other reports point to the fact that the Lebanese army has deployed barely 6,000 soldiers in the south and is still missing at least another 4,000 to complete its deployment. Moreover, reports have shown blatant cooperation between Shiite intelligence officers belonging to the Lebanese army's southern command and Hizbullah elements. Some 50-60% of the deployed soldiers are Shiite and maintain family/tribal bonds with Shiite residents in the south who identify with Hizbullah. The Lebanese government has not presented to U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, as requested, a precise schedule of both the deployment of the Lebanese army to the south and the timing of Hizbullah's dissolution. In addition, the disarmament of the armed Palestinian factions in Lebanon, including Hamas, which was supposed to be taken care of before the dismantling of Hizbullah, has not been addressed by the Lebanese government. In the meantime, Hizbullah continues to reorganize in south Lebanon and prepare itself for a resumption of hostilities with Israel. The writer, a special analyst at the Jerusalem Center, was formerly Deputy Head for Assessment of Israeli Military Intelligence.