Lebanon’s military starts ‘pilot zone’ takeover in south

The Lebanese Armed Forces are designated to take over security responsibilities in three pilot-zone villages in southern Lebanon under a trilateral framework agreement mediated by the United States. The US State Department identified Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya as the initial locations for testing the agreement's implementation, which was reached on 26 June following six rounds of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

The framework envisions a staged Israeli military withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanese territory, with the Lebanese military subsequently establishing security control and overseeing the disarmament of Hezbollah. The arrangement requires the Lebanese Armed Forces to verify that vacated areas have been cleared of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure. However, the agreement does not specify a timeline for Israeli departure from territories comprising approximately one-fifth of Lebanese land.

On the ground, implementation faces obstacles. A security source indicated that Lebanese forces had not yet deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiya because Israeli troops remained in the town's occupied outskirts. The mayors of Froun and Srifa both told media outlets that no visible changes had occurred in their communities, with Srifa's mayor noting that Lebanese military presence had been continuous throughout the conflict.

Israeli officials have stated their intention to maintain a 10-kilometre security zone inside Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, demanding unconditional Israeli withdrawal. The broader conflict has resulted in significant casualties: 4,328 Lebanese killed and over one million displaced since March, alongside at least 32 Israeli soldiers and four civilians killed during the same period.