1.   It originally included nine ministers of state without portfolio, each post corresponding to one of the nine main Lebanese militias.

2.   Palestinian guerrillas, based for the most part around Sidon, proved to be the main obstacle to a full dissolution of the Lebanese militias.

3.   An Israeli inquiry later found the invasion led to the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians at two refugee camps by Lebanese militia allied with Israel at the time.

4.   But in the course of occupying the zone, Israel created a mercenary Lebanese militia, the South Lebanese Army, which would be decimated if Israel withdrew.

5.   But many Israelis remain wary of allowing Lebanese militias to approach the Israeli border.

6.   Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia of Shiite Muslims, announced on Sunday that it had captured an Israeli operative.

7.   In response, Israeli forces and their Lebanese militia allies unleashed artillery rounds at hills said to be guerrilla strongholds.

8.   In Lebanon, Barak was responding to stepped up attacks against Israeli troops, and their allied Lebanese militia, by the Hezbollah guerrillas.

9.   Israel withdrew within a few weeks, leaving the area to the control of pro-Israeli Lebanese militias.

10.   Israeli positions and those of its proxy Lebanese militia can be seen up close from here.