Lebanese army says troops deploying in ‘pilot zone’ after Israeli withdrawal

Lebanon’s army has commenced a significant deployment of its forces into a designated "pilot zone" in the southern part of the country, marking a crucial step following the withdrawal of Israeli troops under a US-brokered agreement. The operation, initiated on Tuesday morning, saw engineering units enter the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district, a move announced by the army command. However, the delicate process was immediately met with tension as the Israeli military reported opening fire in the vicinity of the advancing Lebanese troops. According to Israel, warning shots were discharged after Lebanese soldiers crossed into what Israel designates as its "security zone." This pilot zone initiative is central to a broader plan that envisues the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from a specific portion of the territory they occupied during their recent conflict with Hezbollah, alongside the disarmament of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group.

The commencement of the Lebanese army’s deployment coincided with a high-stakes meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and his Lebanese counterpart, Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun. General Aoun, during his meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office, articulated his clear objectives, stating, "I told him [Trump] I need two things from you: political support and supporting the LAF [Lebanese Armed Forces]." His aim was to leverage this diplomatic engagement to urge President Trump to exert pressure on Israel for a complete withdrawal from the remainder of southern Lebanon and to secure substantial support for the Lebanese army’s efforts to assert full control over areas where Hezbollah currently holds significant influence.

President Trump, speaking alongside General Aoun, pledged unwavering US support for Lebanon, a nation he described as having been "hit hard" for decades. He expressed a strong commitment to rectifying the situation, stating, "It’s been a very badly treated place and country, and we’re going to have it properly treated. And treated with the respect it deserves." This commitment from the US President underscores the strategic importance of Lebanon to American foreign policy in the region.

The US State Department confirmed on Monday afternoon that the "pilot zone operations" had officially begun in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, along with two other Lebanese villages: Froun and Srifa. This development is a direct consequence of the Trilateral Framework, an agreement meticulously negotiated between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, which was finalized at the end of June. The State Department hailed this as a "milestone," attributing its achievement to the productive discussions held between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Rome just the previous week.

Later on Monday, an Israeli military official provided further details on the IDF’s role, confirming that they would "adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas" to facilitate the Lebanese army’s mission. Crucially, this adjustment would be undertaken while simultaneously "safeguarding the security of IDF soldiers and preserving its right to self-defence and to remove threats." The official reiterated the primary objective of the pilot program and the overarching agreement: "The objective of the pilot and the agreement is the disarmament of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation and the removal of its illegal weapons." However, the IDF also maintained its position that it would continue to occupy the "security zone" – a 10-kilometer-deep strip of Lebanese territory bordering Israel – for "as long as necessary" to ensure the defense of northern Israeli communities.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese army’s command issued a statement detailing the deployment of its units to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh. This deployment, they emphasized, was being executed "based on ongoing communications with the Military Co-ordination Group for Lebanon," referring to the trilateral body established to oversee the implementation of the framework agreement. The army command also issued a public appeal to Lebanese citizens, urging them "not to head to the village until the security situation stabilises, and to comply with the instructions of the deployed military units for their own safety."

The tension escalated later on Tuesday when the Lebanese army command reported that Israeli forces had "opened fire in the vicinity of these units." The army warned that this "attack hinders the implementation of deployment steps in the pilot zones," highlighting the volatile nature of the situation on the ground. In response, the IDF stated that its soldiers had fired "warning shots into the air" after Lebanese troops and an engineering vehicle allegedly "crossed approximately 150 meters (490 feet) into the security zone and breached the barriers" in the neighboring area of Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh. The IDF added that the Lebanese troops subsequently "withdrew from the area, and no injuries were reported."

Despite this incident, the Lebanese army confirmed that its units were actively engaged in carrying out missions in the nearby villages of Froun and Srifa, following the US announcement on Monday. An Israeli source, speaking to the Haaretz newspaper, corroborated that no Israeli troops were present in these particular villages, suggesting a degree of de-escalation in those specific locations.

The broader context of Israeli military activity in southern Lebanon also came to light on Tuesday. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli forces were responsible for two large explosions near the villages of Beit Yahoun and Kounine, situated in the Bint Jbeil district. Additionally, the agency documented controlled demolitions carried out by Israeli forces in the town of Majdal Zoun, within the Tyre district. The reports of demolitions are particularly concerning, as many villages in areas still under Israeli occupation have reportedly been reduced to rubble due to Israeli strikes or deliberate demolitions. While the Israeli military asserts that these actions are aimed at destroying Hezbollah infrastructure, human rights organizations have raised grave concerns, suggesting that some of these demolitions may constitute the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, potentially amounting to war crimes.

Hezbollah has vehemently rejected the agreement reached between the Lebanese government, Israel, and the US. The group has characterized the provisions linking Israel’s withdrawal to its disarmament as crossing "all red lines." Israel, in turn, has maintained its stance that it will not fully withdraw from Lebanon until Hezbollah is completely disarmed, creating a significant impasse in the peace process.

President Trump indicated that the US possesses "concrete plans" to assist Lebanon in developing the capacity to disarm Hezbollah, although he did not provide specific details regarding these plans. He also commented on the growing self-sufficiency of the Lebanese army, stating, "They’re also becoming much more self-sufficient." Furthermore, President Trump expressed his willingness to engage in direct dialogue with representatives of Hezbollah if General Aoun requested such an intervention.

The current conflict in Lebanon has its roots in a broader regional escalation, with Lebanon being drawn into the war between Israel, the US, and Iran on March 2nd. This occurred when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in retaliation for a strike that resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with a widespread bombing campaign across Lebanon and a significant ground invasion of the country’s southern regions. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 4,300 people in Lebanon, including nearly 800 children, women, and medical personnel. Israeli authorities, on the other hand, have reported the deaths of 37 Israeli soldiers and four civilians on both sides of the border during the hostilities.