Israeli Army forces withdrew Tuesday from the last border towns and villages in southern Lebanon they captured during the war with Hezbollah, paving the way for the deployment of the Lebanese Army.

Residents of south Lebanon returned to devastated villages on Tuesday, searching for the bodies of relatives killed in last year's war between Israel and Hezbollah, as Israeli troops withdrew from most of the territory.

Israeli forces pulled out of populated areas in southern Lebanon, but retained control over strategic border points as a deadline lapsed for both Israel and Hezbollah to leave the region.