Click to play videoBeirut: The Lebanese army has begun moving in southern Lebanon as the UN prepares to deploy 15,000 foreign troops to oversee the fragile ceasefire and Israeli pullout.
Under the glare of arc lights, Lebanese army engineers are building a steel bridge to span the River Litani. They're preparing the way for thousands more troops to stream into south Lebanon to begin policing the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel.
As dawn breaks the first trucks rumble over. The bridge creaks under the weight of low-loaders and antiquated armored personnel carriers.
In the coming weeks, Lebanese troops - whose arrival was welcomed by the locals - will try to ensure that the battle-hardened Hezbollah militia disarms.
Says a Lebanese resident, "I am very relaxed and happy now and believe in my children's future."
The guerrilla force has proved itself to be better equipped and tougher than the national army. United Nations Peacekeepers are backing the ceasefire effort and will get reinforcements over the next two weeks.
Lebanese and UN troops may face a difficult task as one can see by the posters and flags that this is most definitely Hezbollah country.
Guerrilla fighters can blend in with the local community and hide their weapons easily. Hezbollah commanders have said their fighters will not demobilize.
They are emboldened after resisting Israel's war machine. Dozens more Lebanese troops - the advance party of a planned 15,000 strong force landed in the southern port of Tyre on Thursday afternoon.
The Lebanese flag is hoisted high and assault rifles are at the ready amid the thunder of caterpillar tracks. Ahead of them is the battle to build a lasting peace.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
