Israel completes the withdrawal of its Israel Defense Forces (IDF)...

Israel completes the withdrawal of its Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops from southern Lebanon, ending an 18-year-long military presence in the area. The decision to withdraw was made by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who believed that, continued military presence in Lebanon was not worth the loss of Israeli lives. The move was also seen as a fulfilment of Israel's obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 425, which called for the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. The withdrawal was welcomed by the Lebanese government and was seen as a significant milestone in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, it was also met with criticism from some Israelis who feared that it would embolden Hezbollah, the militant group that had been fighting against Israel's presence in southern Lebanon.

Wednesday, 24 May, 2000