Lebanese Army Begins Deployment as Israel Starts Limited Withdrawal Under US-Backed Plan

The Lebanese army has begun deploying troops to a “pilot zone” in southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered agreement reached last month. Army officials said units entered the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in Nabatieh district on Tuesday as part of the initial phase of the plan.

Israel confirmed the start of the pilot zone initiative, which предусматриes a limited Israeli military withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon alongside measures aimed at the disarmament of Hezbollah under the trilateral framework involving Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. The US State Department said similar operations had also begun in the villages of Froun and Srifa.

The developments come ahead of a meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Aoun is expected to press for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and seek additional US support for the Lebanese army to extend state control over areas where Hezbollah has maintained influence.