The first group of 240 French army engineers arrived at Rafik Hariri International Airport on Sunday to help rebuild the bridges that were destroyed during the 34-day- long Israel-Hezbollah conflict, local media reported.

The French soldiers were due to help the Lebanese army rebuild about 15 bridges across Lebanon which were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes, said an officer of the French military mission in Beirut.

The officer said that another 240 French soldiers will arrive in three consecutive sections later in the day, adding that the French troops will go first to Damour, a coastal town south of Beirut, where they will begin work before moving to other areas in south Lebanon.

The French soldiers are neither part of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), nor part of an expanded international force authorized by the UN Security Council resolution 1701 to help the Lebanese government control south Lebanon, according to the officer.

The Israel-Hezbollah fighting has ended since Aug. 14 when a ceasefire was approved by both Israeli and Lebanese governments.

Source: Xinhua