BEIRUT- Syrian military forces, involved in a phased pullout operation from Lebanon, have vacated a number of major positions in the Western Bekaa Valley in southeastern Lebanon, a security source said on Tuesday.
The source told KUNA that the troops withdrew from the regions of Al-Qadiriah and Hosh Al-Harimi, where the troops had dug in tanks and armored vehicles in addition to missile launchers.
Ammunition, arms and equipment were loaded into large trucks that were brought in from neighboring Syria and the Syrian soldiers boarded buses before heading to the border Al-Masnaa checkpoint, the source said.
The source estimated the number of the Syrian troops, involved in the operation, at 2,500, in addition to 200 tanks and various heavy-calibre arms.
With the latest operation, the Syrians have withdrawn up to two thirds of their military forces from the valley in eastern Lebanon -- totally estimated at some 10,000.
The Syrian military pullout is due to end on April 30, in line with a recent decision, taken by the Lebanese-Syrian military committee.