Meanwhile, most of the "Israeli" collaborators who stayed behind in Jezzine after the withdrawal of Lahd's forces have surrendered to the Lebanese Army. The official sources reported that the "Israeli" agents will face trial on charges of collaborating with the "Israeli" occupation forces.
Premier inspects liberated Jezzine
(1)
"Prime Minister Dr Salim al-Hoss has inspected the evacuated Jezzine
enclave while members of the "Israeli" occupation's proxy militia who refused
to withdraw with the retreating forces began to surrender to the Lebanese
army."
The premier stressed that his visit affirms that "the state is alerted to safeguard Jezzine's needs and interests."
"He chaired a meeting in Jezzine's municipal building attended by security and economic officials, and local dignitaries to discuss the reconstruction plan of Jezzine, which had been occupied by the "Israeli" enemy and its militia since 1985.
"Al-Hoss, who was accompanied by a number of government officials, also promised quick assistance to the long-neglected area, "which resisted the "Israeli" occupation".
Asked if his government was planning to send more police forces to the area, he said, "It depends on the need."
"Al-Hoss, the first prime minister to inspect Jezzine in 17 years, extended congratulations to local residents, saying they have been liberated from the occupation.
"He instructed government departments concerned to listen to the demands and needs of local people, saying the state will begin to serve them.
"The "Israeli" militia completed a three-day withdrawal from Jezzine early Thursday and has retreated into the adjacent occupied zone.
As he conveyed greetings from President Gen Emile Lahoud to the town's residents, the premier said, "The Lebanese have the right to be joyful due to the victory of steadfastness and legitimacy, the victory of Lebanon's sovereignty."
The return of Jezzine to the homeland is a great feast and a victory for the Resistance, he said.
The premier said the militiamen "should surrender. We have a fair judicial system and justice will take its normal course."
Militiamen begin to surrender
(2)
"The militiamen, who decided to quit the "Israeli"-backed group and
stay in the Jezzine region, started since Thursday night to surrender by
small groups to Lebanese army checkpoints in Bater, Bisri and Kfar Falous
on the other side of the occupied zone".
"Father Boulos Khawand, a local Christian religious leader who was handling the issue of the militiamen in Jezzine, said the surrender was taking place "quietly and without any escort" from the police forces that deployed in the area following the militia's withdrawal.
"Khawand explained that the Lebanese security authorities have requested that the militiamen surrender gradually and not all at the same time.
"He said he sensed a "positive approach" from the Lebanese authorities "to encourage the remaining militiamen who withdrew to inside the occupied security zone" to also surrender.
"As the militia completed its withdrawal from Jezzine on Thursday, the Beirut government and the Resistance called on the militiamen to repent and surrender, promising them a fair trial for their collaboration with the "Israeli" occupation and its militia".
"So far, around 25 militiamen have surrendered themselves to the Lebanese army at the Bater and Bisri Crossings, reports said.
"The pullout from Jezzine came after the militia was subjected to a series of severe attacks by the Islamic Resistance, which killed more than 150 militiamen, including two commanders of the Jezzine garrison, and wounded 400 others in the past 14 years".
"Israeli" Aggressions
(3)
In its statement, the IR reported the following aggressions which staged
by the "Israeli" occupation troops on the Lebanese liberated areas:
4:30, the outskirts of Majdal Zoun village exposed to a barrage of 12.7mm
heavy machine gun bullets, whereas Hassan Ravine was shelled by twelve
81mm rounds.
4:50, the surroundings of the old and new Beit Yahoun outposts came
under 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
6:25, three 155mm missiles fell on the west of Yater village.
7:25, Slouqi Valley was targeted by four 155mm missiles.
7:45, a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun rounds hit the surroundings
of Salaah position.
13:45, six 155mm missiles fell on the perimeters of Qantara and Qsair
villages and five mirkava tanks on the road between Taibeh and Adsheit.
15:30, three 155mm missiles struck the peripheries of Jibaa town.
20:20, Houla village subjected to 12.7mm heavy machine gun fire.
22:30, a volley of 12.7mm heavy machine gun bullets hit the surroundings
of Qabaa position.
22:55, Slouqi Valley was targeted by two 120mm shells and several 81mm
rounds.
Military Operations
(4)
The IR group Imad Al-Salman attacked, at 14:30, an "Israeli" infantry
force near Mlikh village with the machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
Direct and certain goals were chalked up.
Monthly report on "Israeli" aggressions against Lebanon - May
1999
(5)
There were 138 "Israeli" air, ground and sea aggressions against Lebanon
during the month of May.
Air aggressions constituted 37.5% of the gross aggressions, in comparison
to 33.7% in April 1999.
During May, "Israeli" enemy escalated its aggressions and targeted peaceful civilians in liberated areas.
Enemy aircraft staged 33 raids on areas in the south and the western Beqaa. These targeted:
- On May 4, a 3 room building that is annexed to the Imam Ali (A.S.) Mosque in Sheikh Habib neighborhood (Baalback). The bombardment wounded 5 citizens; other raids targeted the Rwais area (between the towns of Jibal al-Botom and Zibqeen) and the Batoon Hilltop (northeast of Sidon),
- On May 5, a Wadi to the west of the towns of Yohmor and Zillaya, along with the outskirts of Ain Bousoir and Mount Safi,
- On May 6, the Assi area (Kafra), the Tair Harfa area (east of Yater) and the eastern outskirts of al-Qlayleh,
- On May 13, the house of Ali Abdel-Latif Yassin in the town of Majdal Selem. The two-story house was destroyed. Two Faithful Resistance fighters were martyred and a civilian was wounded in the aggression,
- Wadi Behneen and Wadi Bisri on May 14,
- The vicinity of the Bait Yahoun area, an area between Aita al-Jabal and Baraasheit, and the woods of Jibaa on May 15,
- On May 17, Wadi al-Awar in Jibal al-Botom, the woods of Shaaitieh, the Zibqeen - Shaaitieh Jibal al-Botom triangle,
- Wadi Zillaya on May 27,
- On May 28 Wadi al-Shohadaa (Yater), the deserted collaborators' outpost in Bait Yahoun,
-Wadi Kafra (Jibaa woods), the Jabal al-Akhdar area, the Batoun Hilltop
(north of Jezzine), the
Toumat Niha outpost, and the hilltops overlooking Mashghara on May
29,
- and the Mlita hilltop, outskirts of Jarjoua and Ain Bousoir several times on May 30.
Furthermore, May witnessed "Israeli" blatant violations of the April
Understanding.
- On May 7, the enemy bombarded the outskirts of Maifadoun, wounding
civilian Qassem Ali al-Mazbouh.
- On May 12, the occupation shelled the town of Houla. Ms Intisar Mohammed Foani was martyred by the attack and four other civilians were wounded.
- On May 13, the explosion of a charge at the Homsieh road took the lives of a Nimr Jibraieh, his wife, his son, and two relatives of theirs.
-On May 15, the enemy bombarded the towns of Aita al-Jabal and Haddatha, injuring Ms Zeinab Hussein Mansour, 16, (in Aita al-Jabal) and Ms Deiba Ghissawi (in Haddatha).
- The occupation's bombardment of Aita al-Jabal on May 16 injured another civilian.
- On May 17, the "Israeli" enemy perpetrated a hideous crime when it suddenly fired a missile on the town of Zawtar al-Sharqieh. Cousins Farid Harb, 19, and Saddam Harb, 20, were martyred by the treacherous aggressions.
- The occupation forces on May 18 bombarded the outskirts of Yohmor al-Shkeif, injuring brothers Hussein and Hassan Olieq.
- On May 22 the enemy pounded the town of al-Mansouri and injured Mohammed Asaad Banjak, 46, and Naji Rida, 41. Sniper fire from "Israeli" outposts killed Fatima Kamal Sbeiti and wounded her son Ali Youssef Sbeiti.
- On May 27, raking the town of Tibneen by enemy forces machine-gun fire wounded civilian Hassan Mahmoud Fawwaz.
- "Israeli" bombardment of residential areas in Kfar Romman on May 30 wounded Insaf Abu Zeid, 60, Iman Abu Zeid, 33, Zahida Abu Zeid, 32, Abdel-Karim Medlej, 70, and Mohammed Medlej, 32.
- On May 31, an Irish UNIFIL soldier was killed and another was wounded
when "Israeli" rounds slammed their outpost in Baraasheit; also shells
that hit the town of Touline injured Ms Fatima Ahmed Hammoud and Ms Najah
Shihab.
During May, the occupation and its collaborators held a series of meetings
in the occupied zone.
- On May 5, a meeting at the Marjeyoun Barracks was attended by officers from the "Israeli" liaison unit command and the northern area command besides commanders of the Lahd militia.
Sources said the attendants discussed the Resistance's speed in gathering information about agent Monah Toma (who succeeded agent Joseph Karam as the militia's 20th Regiment commander), besides the Resistance's ability to target the agent so swiftly.
Those talking part in the meeting regarded the operation a serious security
infiltration.
They were not able, on the other hand, to find a successor for Karam
especially after the killing of Toma.
- On May 11, another meeting of senior officials was held, for the second time at the "Israeli" security service HQ in Hasbaya.
The meeting was attended by a number of security officers from the northern area command, the liaison unit command, and Lahds security apparatus.
The aim of the meeting was to discus the general military situation in the zone, and in Jezzine in particular, besides appointing a new commander for the 20th regiment after agent Karams injury and the killing of his successor Monah Toma.
Those meeting could not reach a decision in this regard. The post was offered to several Lahdi officers, but they have all preferred to quit the militia rather than taking "the suicide" post.
It was agreed, in principal, to keep the post vacant and that the regiment be temporarily under the command of the Hasbaya regiment. Thus, Jezzine will be considered a military extension of the Hasbaya area.
- On May 14, a meeting was held at the "Israeli" security HQ in Tallet Zoghle. The session which was attended by "Israeli" and Lahdi officers, discussed the repeated desertions from the Lahd militia.
On the other hand, the "Israeli" enemy partially blocked the town of Shibaa on May 13. It renewed the blockade on May 24.
Information said there was an "Israeli" plan to create a surveillance center at the town's eastern hilltops in order to observe the area to the north of Shibaa until the Janaam front line.
On the other hand, the enemy on May 7 arrested Kamil Rahim, a militiaman who worked in the security service in the town of al-Khiam, on charges of cooperating with the Resistance.
On May 3, the "Israeli" enemy shut down the Hamra Crossing, following the Islamic Resistances qualitative operation in the Bayada area. It also closed the Zimraya Gate on May 10. On May 14, the collaborators militia shut down the crossings of Bater and Kfar Falous. The enemy on May 24 closed the Bait Yahoun crossing after the Resistance men planted a large amount of explosives inside the Bait Yahoun outpost before dynamiting it.
Furthermore, the Lahdi militiamen on May 6, 23, and 26 set up checkpoints at the entrance of the Arnoun town, outside the barbed wires that encircle the town. People passing were searched and some of them were detained (five citizens and two Syrian workmen), one of them was handicapped. His name is Munir Mohamed Zohor. They were questioned and then released before the collaborating militiamen retreated to their outpost in the Beaufort Castle.
Elsewhere, "Israeli" gunboats on May 12 intercepted fishermens boats off the Qlayleh shore. Enemy navy abducted fishermen Hussein Emaiss and Toufeiq Toufla who were questioned, beaten and insulted before being released.
Enemy gunboats also held a civilian vessel off the Tyre shore on May 26. The ship was searched before being allowed to anchor at the Tyre port.
As for desertion, two militiamen deserted the old and new Bait Yahoun outpost. The two men who hail from Bint Jbeil surrendered to the Resistance on May 1.
On May 24, Shadi Mansour, another militiaman deserted his outpost in Jezzine.
Occupation forces have reinforced their outposts for fear of Resistance operations. In the Tallet Zoghle outpost, new constructions and cement ramparts were built next to the occupied building which belongs to Information Minister Anwar Al-Khalil.
These aggressions resulted in the martyrdom of five people (including two Faithful Resistance fighters and an Irish UNIFIL soldier), injuring 23 civilians, detaining 3 people (including a Lahdi militiaman), expelling three civilians, destroying two houses, and damaging 85 others, four schools and five cars.