BEIRUT, June 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military has started to redeploy toward the south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, Lebanese security and military sources said Monday.
According to local sources, Israeli armored vehicles and troops were seen withdrawing from positions near the Beaufort Castle area and the towns of Kfar Tebnit, Western Zawtar, and Eastern Zawtar, moving toward locations south of the Litani River, particularly in the direction of the town of Taybeh in the Marjeyoun district of eastern southern Lebanon.
The north of the Litani River lies deeper inside the Lebanese territory, while the south is a strip of southern Lebanon between the river and the Israeli border.
Lebanese authorities are closely monitoring Israeli movements to determine their nature and objectives, noting that it remains unclear whether the redeployment was limited to a reduction in troop presence or could later lead to a broader withdrawal from areas north of the Litani River, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Lebanon's Civil Defense announced it had recovered the bodies of 13 victims in Israeli strike-hit areas in southern Lebanon, as rescue teams continued field operations to clear roads and ensure public safety.
Earlier in the day, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a phone call from U.S. Vice President JD Vance, where they discussed efforts to maintain a ceasefire and halt Israeli military escalation, according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency.
Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani also took part in the call between Aoun and Vance, according to the presidency.
The developments come amid ongoing diplomatic consultations regarding the situation in southern Lebanon and the future of understandings related to the Lebanese-Israeli border file. ■
