Feature: Entering South Lebanon after Israel's WithdrawalSince the beginning of last week when Israel began retreating its occupation troops from south Lebanon, Lebanese swarmed into those liberated villages, and more squeezed onto the road to the south after Israel completed the pullout Wednesday.Bedecked with Lebanese ensigns and Hezbolla's yellow or black flags, hundreds of cars headed for the south on the freeway from Beirut on Wednesday morning. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and set up a so-called security zone in south Lebanon in 1985 with a self-claimed aim of protecting its northern settlements from cross-border guerrilla attacks. Since then, the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas have been spearheading a war to oust the Israeli occupation troops and the pro-Israeli South Lebanon Army. In the city of Nabatiye, the second largest city in south Lebanon, more Hezbollah flags can be seen hung above the roads, on which the pattern of a hand holding a gun embodies the organization's purpose. Though Nabatiye is located out of Israel's self-styled "security zone", resistance guerrillas used the city as a springboard to penetrate into the occupied zone and attack Israeli troops, and the suburb of the city often became the target of Israel's raids. A Hezbollah member named Ali Tayibu in Nabatiye said "we have been fighting for our legitimate rights and the liberation of our country for dozens years. We are very proud, as Lebanon is the first Arabic country that forced Israeli troops to leave. We will not cease fire if Israel is still occupying our lands." He alluded the controversial Shebaa Farms that is under Israel control as an alleged part of Syria. On the zigzag road from Nabatiye to south "security zone", many Israeli military jeeps and panzers were abandoned by Israel. In a intersection, lied a ruined Israeli tank. Some witnesses said Israeli plane destroyed it with air-to-ground missile on Tuesday night, which could not be conveyed back to Israel and was afraid to be seized by Hezbollah. Dozens of passers-by climbed onto the barbette of the tank to take photo as a historic memento. Israel deserted an artillery front at the hilltop of Zafati. Nine cannon were destroyed in the base while about hundred of bombshells were scattered in the magazine room. A truck with Hezbollah flags entered the base and several armed men moved the ammunition. At the border town of Kafla Kala, about six kilometers south of Nabatiye, hundreds of Lebanese gathered in front of entanglements. Resistance fighters waved flags and exclaimed to a patrolling Israeli military jeep. A Lebanese photographer crossed the 3-meter isolation zone between two entanglements and gave Hezbollah's flag to his Israeli counterpart. Arabic women shrieked to express their joy in the traditional way. Sheikh Abiden Aoun, the mayor of the town, said the number of the resident has decreased since Israel's occupation. "We got nothing but humility and blood. Many people have no choice except emigration. We hope every thing will get better from now on," he added. While the jubilant air overwhelmed the south, an old Christian man in Kafla Kala asking not to be identified, expressed the typical fear, "I am pleased now, but I am not optimistic for the future. Israeli troops have broken into our gate twice (in 1978 and 1982), it has the might to come again if Hezbollah attacked across border." Standing on the Lebanese-Israeli border, only one kilometer stretch into the Israeli territory lies a beautiful village. |
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