Haykal inspects south Lebanon troops in combat zones

BEIRUT — Army Commander-in-Chief General Rodolph Haykal conducted an inspection tour on Sunday in South Lebanon, visiting troops stationed in Nabatieh, Nabatieh Fawqa, Kfar Roummane, Choukine, Zrariyeh, and the surrounding areas of Kfar Tebnit.

All of these zones have witnessed intense Israeli bombardments or clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.

According to an army statement, Haykal "inquired about operations carried out by the units, the challenges they face, and Israeli aggressions and violations."

South Lebanon has experienced a fragile cease-fire since Saturday at 4 p.m. The war has been raging there since March 2, following missile fire from Hezbollah toward Israel. Since then, more than 60 villages have been entirely or partially destroyed.

The Lebanese Army, which was supposed to have taken control south of the Litani River, was forced to withdraw from vast areas because of the war. The Israeli army occupies nearly 6% of the country.

During his tour, Haykal emphasized "the importance of measures taken to ensure the safety of residents in regions under Israeli attack." He highlighted "the role played by the Lebanese army in the various regions, particularly in South Lebanon," stating that the troops "enjoy the trust of the Lebanese people."