BEIRUT, Jun 27: Israel struck southern Lebanon on Saturday, a day after the two countries signed a US-brokered security arrangement aimed at easing tensions along their border after months of hostilities.
Lebanon's state news agency said an Israeli drone struck in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, which lies outside a security zone shown on a map published by Israel of an expanded zone its troops control in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military told Reuters it had carried out the strike, using a drone as no Israeli troops were in the immediate area. It said it targeted an individual who posed a threat to its forces, without providing further details or evidence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, said late on Friday that the agreement allowed Israeli troops to remain in the so-called "security zone" in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah was disarmed.
He said the Israeli military would also allow the Lebanese army to take control of territory in two areas -- one outside the security zone and south of the Litani River, while the other is north of the Litani.
Netanyahu added that Lebanese civilians displaced from the security zone won't be allowed to return home.
In the agreement signed on Friday, Israel says its military actions in Lebanon "are solely a consequence of the attacks, threat posed by, and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah."
"Termination of this threat," notably through disarmament of such non-state groups and "additional security arrangements to be agreed upon between the two countries," will eliminate any future necessity for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon, it says.�" AGENCIES
