Lebanese army says troops deploying in ‘pilot zone’ after Israeli withdrawal
The Lebanese army said its troops were deployed to a “pilot area” in the south of the country following the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered deal last month.
According to the statement made by the army command, engineering units entered the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in Nabatieh district on Tuesday morning.
It was later reported that Israeli forces opened fire near the soldiers. The Israeli army said that warning shots were fired after the soldiers crossed into the “security zone” declared by Israel.
The pilot zone plan should envisage the withdrawal of Israeli troops from a small portion of occupied territory during clashes with Hezbollah and the disarmament of the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
Tuesday’s deployment began ahead of a meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun.
Aoun was expected to encourage Trump to pressure Israel to withdraw from the rest of southern Lebanon and support the Lebanese army in taking full control of areas dominated by Hezbollah.
“I told him [Trump] I need two things from you: Political support and support for LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces]Aoun told reporters in the Oval Office:
Speaking alongside Aoun, Trump promised that the United States would provide aid to Lebanon, which has been “hit hard” for decades.
“It was a very badly treated place and country, and we will ensure that it is treated accordingly,” he said. “And he was treated with the respect he deserved.”
The U.S. state department announced Monday afternoon that “pilot area operations” have begun in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and two other Lebanese villages, Froun and Srifa, in accordance with the Tripartite Framework agreed by Israel, Lebanon and the United States in late June.
It was stated that the “turning point” was the direct result of the talks held between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Rome last week.
Later Monday, an Israeli military official confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will “adjust the force posture in one of the pilot areas” to allow the Lebanese army to carry out its mission, while also “protecting the security of IDF soldiers and eliminating threats in self-defense.”
“The purpose of the pilot and the agreement is to disarm the Hezbollah terrorist organization and eliminate its illegal weapons,” the official said.
They also reiterated that the IDF will remain in the 10-kilometer (six-mile) deep “security zone” of occupied Lebanese territory along the border “as long as necessary” to defend northern Israeli communities.
