Zawtar al Gharbiyeh, Lebanon. Lebanese troops began deploying to parts of southern Lebanon on Tuesday after Israeli forces withdrew from a designated pilot zone under a United States-brokered agreement intended to reduce border tensions. The Lebanese army said its units had entered Zawtar al Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district.
Pilot zone operations
The Lebanese army said the deployment was part of ongoing coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, which was established to oversee implementation of the agreement.
Under the pilot zone plan, Israeli troops are withdrawing from limited areas while the Lebanese army assumes responsibility for security. Efforts are continuing to address Hezbollah’s armed presence.
The US State Department said operations had also begun in the villages of Froun and Srifa, describing the development as a “milestone” following discussions between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Rome last week.
Israeli position
Israel’s military confirmed it had begun adjusting its deployment in one of the pilot areas to enable the Lebanese army to carry out its mission.
An Israeli military official said the objective of the pilot and the agreement was the disarmament of Hezbollah and the removal of its illegal weapons. The official said Israeli forces would remain in the border security zone for as long as necessary while retaining the right to respond to threats.
Washington meeting
The developments came ahead of a meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Speaking alongside Aoun, Trump pledged continued US support for Lebanon, saying the country had been “very badly treated” and would receive “the respect it deserves”.
The Lebanese army urged residents not to return to Zawtar al Gharbiyeh until security conditions had stabilised and to follow instructions from deployed troops as operations continue.