Lebanese and Israeli military delegations met Oct. 20 to review a U.S.-backed withdrawal plan; Oct. 21, Al Jazeera released footage of Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon joking inside a displaced family's house while setting explosives.
Al Jazeera said the video shows the soldiers joking during a tour of the house, which belonged to a family that had been displaced. The outlet placed Lebanon's displacement toll above 1.2 million, linking it to Israeli attacks and the renewed ground operation in the south.
Military delegations from Lebanon and Israel met in Tampa on Oct. 20 to review a framework signed June 26. The U.S.-sponsored agreement provides for Israeli forces to pull back in phases while the Lebanese Armed Forces assume security responsibilities in two initial pilot zones.
Before the talks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun accused Israel of obstructing the Lebanese Armed Forces' deployment in the south, the Lebanese presidency said. The framework does not specify a date for a full Israeli withdrawal.
