Israeli troops to remain at 'five positions' in S Lebanon

JERUSALEM, Feb 18 (AFP): Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday that troops remain at five positions in southern Lebanon past a pullout deadline, vowing action against any truce violation by militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military "will remain in a buffer zone in Lebanon with five control positions, and will continue to act forcefully and uncompromisingly against any Hezbollah violation," said Katz in a statement shortly after an extended deadline expired for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon under the November 27 truce deal.

Israel had announced hours before the pullout deadline that it would keep troops in "five strategic points" near the border.

A Lebanese security source earlier confirmed to AFP that "the Israeli army has withdrawn from all border villages except for five points."