Italian troops began landing on the southern Lebanese port of Tyre on Saturday as part of a UN peacekeeping force to monitor a truce between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas, local media reported.

A total of 878 soldiers were coming ashore at two beaches, said officials of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Another 200 Italian troops are expected to arrive in the capital, Beirut, on Sunday.

The current 2,000-strong UNIFIL is to be expanded over the next few months to 15,000 under a U.N. Security Council resolution that paved the way for the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire three weeks ago.

The expanded UN force is to support the Lebanese army as it takes up positions in southern Lebanon, formerly a Hezbollah-controlled zone, and will also help with humanitarian work.

Italy will take control of the international force from France in February, when the Italian contingent is expected to reach 3,500 troops.

Source: Xinhua