‘Pilot zones’ launched under Israel-Lebanon deal
The Israeli army said that a pilot program has begun in cooperation with the US army and the Lebanese armed forces for what it calls safe zones in Southern Lebanon.
The pilot areas are designated areas in southern Lebanon where the US-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, signed last month, calls for the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of Lebanese troops.
The Israeli military said teams from the three armies were coordinating and planning the implementation of the agreement and warned that any violations would be met harshly.
The Lebanese army said on Monday that its units continued their duties in the southern villages of Froun and Srifa and were coordinating with the Lebanese Military Coordination Group to begin deploying in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh after the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Residents were urged not to enter Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and to follow the instructions of the troops deployed in the area.
The announcement came ahead of a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Aoun said he hoped the talks would help with the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon agreed on the framework in late June. According to the agreement, Israel must complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon only after the disarmament of non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah; This provision runs counter to the demands of Hezbollah and its ally Iran.
Hezbollah, which was not involved in the negotiations, rejected the agreement and has repeatedly refused to accept the disarmament envisaged under the agreement.
via Reuters
