Key Takeaways
- The Lebanese army started taking charge of security in three southern villages.
- This move is part of a deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon.
- The framework agreement was signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States on June 26.
The Lebanese army has begun assuming control over security in three southern villages as part of a deal aimed at securing an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon. The move marks the first test of the framework agreement signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States on June 26 after several rounds of direct negotiations.
According to Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesman, operations have started in 'pilot zones' in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya. These areas are intended to trial the approach before it is extended to other regions straddling the Litani River. The framework envisions a phased Israeli pullback from positions in south Lebanon, with the Lebanese Armed Forces assuming sole security control of vacated areas.
However, the agreement has faced opposition from Hezbollah, which rejected it outright. Israeli officials have stated that their forces will remain in a 'security zone' 10 kilometres deep along the frontier for as long as Hezbollah remains armed. This stance complicates the implementation of the framework and raises concerns about its success.
The talks leading to this agreement were held between Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Rome last week, with Washington acting as an intermediary. The deal is seen as a direct outcome of these discussions and aims to clear areas of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure before full withdrawal can occur.
Lebanese military sources have reported that troops are intensifying patrols in several villages adjacent to areas occupied by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. This move comes ahead of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s planned meeting with US President Donald Trump, which is scheduled for Tuesday.
The framework agreement was reached following a fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war and aims to address ongoing tensions between the two parties. While the deal represents progress, its implementation faces significant challenges, particularly given the opposition from Hezbollah and occasional Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.
