For decades, the Lebanese army has had little or no influence south of the Litani River. The border region's true powerbrokers have been Hezbollah and Israel -- the two opposing sides that the deployment of Lebanese soldiers and tanks in southern Lebanon is meant to keep from fighting.

But it remains to be seen if the Lebanese government in Beirut can truly expand its control to its southern border with Israel, especially since the Islamist outfit Hezbollah appears far from willing to cede power  or disarm .

Lebanon's cabinet on Wednesday backed the deployment of troops south of the Litani River, but the government -- which includes ministers from Hezbollah's political wing -- said soldiers would not confront militia members of the Shiite extremist group.

"There will be no confrontation between the army and brothers in Hezbollah. ... That is not the army's mission," said Information Minister Ghazi Aridi according to the Associate Press. "They are not going to chase or, God forbid, exact revenge."

However, establishing Lebanese army control in the south is a key part of the UN cease-fire that stopped over a month of heavy fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The government troops will have to bridge a period until a more robust UN peacekeeping force can be sent to the region to help stabilize the fragile peace. According to the UN cease-fire agreement that took hold on Monday, Israel will transfer control of its positions in southern Lebanon to the UN forces, which would then turn them over to the Lebanese army.

The Associated Press reported that ten armored carriers mounted on flatbed trucks drove across a newly installed metal bridge over the Litani at dawn, escorted by several military vehicles. The deployment marks the extension of government sovereignty over the whole country -- however tenuous -- for the first time in four decades.

"Since 1968 the army has not come here. This is our first time since then," Lebanese Brig. Gen. Charles Sheikhani said in the largely Christian town of Marjayoun, where Hezbollah's Shiite Muslim militants have little support.

Many local residents seemed pleased the Lebanese army had returned, even if they are unprepared to face down Hezbollah. "Today is a new beginning for us in south Lebanon," said George Najm, a 23-year-old man from the nearby village of Qlaia. "We'll need some time to feel safe but it's a great start. It was a good move by the government."