Lebanese return to ‘pilot zone’ villages they say Israel never occupied
Displaced residents have begun returning to villages in southern Lebanon under a US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. However, some locals and Lebanese security sources dispute whether these villages were actually occupied by Israeli forces, raising questions about the agreement's substance.
Residents of southern Lebanese villages have commenced returning to their homes following the announcement of a pilot zone project involving Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. The initiative forms part of a broader framework agreement signed in Washington the previous month, under which Israel is expected to withdraw from select areas in southern Lebanon while maintaining control of other occupied territories. The agreement comes amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which Israel has stated must be disarmed before a complete Israeli withdrawal occurs. The conflict has resulted in more than 4,300 deaths since March.
The first phase of the pilot zone plan includes the village of Froun, with Ghandouriyeh designated for the second phase. Residents began returning to these neighbouring villages on Monday after Israeli bombardment had previously forced their displacement. However, interviews conducted with local inhabitants and statements from Lebanese security sources have raised significant questions about the plan's credibility. Multiple residents questioned why their villages were included in the withdrawal framework, asserting that Israeli forces had never occupied these locations. Lebanese security officials corroborated this account, confirming that the two villages had not been under Israeli military occupation.
The geographical position of these villages presents ongoing security challenges. Located on elevated terrain overlooking several Israeli-occupied towns in the Nabatieh and Marjayoun districts, the villages face continued exposure to Israeli military presence and fire. Roads connecting the communities remain dangerous, with certain stretches subject to regular Israeli fire from forces stationed in nearby occupied areas.
Despite the uncertain situation, many families have not waited for the framework agreement's full implementation and have begun gradually returning to their properties. One family business owner, Abu Ali Miqdad, has started clearing debris from buildings containing residential apartments and storage facilities at Froun's entrance, attempting to salvage remaining materials. The family business, established decades earlier and now involving multiple generations, has managed to recover some items from the rubble. While expressing limited optimism about the current circumstances, the family patriarch has indicated determination to continue reconstruction efforts regardless of ongoing military operations.
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