Special report: Israel-Lebanon Conflicts   [ Video ] [Gallery]

     BEIRUT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The number of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon has reached 5,000, said a spokesman on Tuesday, reaching a level that Israel sees sufficient for its complete withdrawal from Lebanon.

    UNIFIL spokesman Alexander Ivanko said the force numbered 4,950 and more UN troops were heading south from Beirut.

    Lebanese National News Agency reported that about 150 UN troops and dozens of military vehicles left Beirut on Tuesday for the south to reinforce the peacekeeping mission.

    Also on Tuesday, three Spanish warships, within the framework of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), arrived in the southern Lebanese port city of Tyre and were unloaded of military vehicles and logistics.

    The reinforcements will help maintain the Aug. 14 ceasefire which halted the war between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.

    Israel has said it will complete its withdrawal from south Lebanon once there are at least 5,000 UNIFIL troops on the ground.

    Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Dan Halutz expected on Tuesday that all Israeli troops in south Lebanon would evacuate by Friday.

    Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which broke out on July 12 following the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by the Shiite group, came to an end on Aug. 14 thanks to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

    The resolution calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UNIFIL to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws. Enditem