Israel Pulls Troops Out of Lebanon; Aid Groups Move In

Israel began withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon on the second day of the U.N.-imposed cease-fire as aid groups hoped for greater access to deliver needed relief to the returning Lebanese.

The world watched with some anxiety on Tuesday as the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah continued to hold despite at least six Hezbollah militiamen killed by Israeli troops on Monday and at least 10 rockets fired by the guerilla group.

Aid groups, which had demanded safe humanitarian corridors during the conflict, hope the ceasefire will be permanent and allow local partners to gain improved access to the worst affected communities in southern Lebanon.

“We badly need to provide humanitarian aid to those people who will be returning home. They have nothing,” said Caritas Lebanon director Georges Khoury, according to Catholic Agency for Overseas Development on Monday.