Halutz said "he hoped the last troops will leave southern Lebanon by the eve of Rosh Hashana (which takes place on Saturday)," a member of the panel said.

Israeli forces have remained in Lebanon after the month-long war against Hezbollah ended on August 14, and have been gradually withdrawing as international forces and the Lebanese army assume control.

Halutz was also quoted as saying that officers planned to meet UN representatives in southern Lebanon on Tuesday to discuss the handover of the remaining territory where Israeli troops are still based.

According to the army, troops have so far pulled back from over 80 percent of the territory it once controlled, and are currently concentrated in a narrow strip along Lebanon's border with Israel.

A military source told AFP that a full Israeli withdrawal was made possible after the army this week finished rebuilding an electronic border fence, which was demolished during the war to allow armoured vehicles to cross into Lebanon.

Halutz was also quoted as telling the committee that the Hezbollah Shia militia "has been thoroughly respecting the ceasefire agreement" and that its guerrillas refrain from carrying weapons in the open.

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Israeli troops were to withdraw from territory occupied during a massive offensive that began on July 12 after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers during a cross-border raid.

In 34 days of fighting, more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers, were killed.