Israeli military says safe zone pilot program in southern Lebanon has begun in co-operation with US, Lebanese
Initial steps to implement a security arrangement agreed by Israel and Lebanon have begun in several locations in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military says a pilot program for what it calls safe zones in southern Lebanon has begun in co-operation with the US military and the Lebanese armed forces.
The pilot zones are designated areas in southern Lebanon where a US-brokered framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon signed last month foresees Iran-backed Hezbollah’s disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of Lebanese troops.
The Israeli military said teams from the three militaries were co-ordinating and planning the implementation of the agreement, and warned it would respond forcefully to any violation.
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It urged residents not to enter Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and to follow the instructions of troops deployed in the area.
The announcement comes ahead of a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. Aoun said he hopes the talks will help secure the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.
Israel and Lebanon agreed on the framework in late June. Under the agreement, Israel is required to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon only after non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah, have been disarmed, a provision that runs counter to demands by Hezbollah and its ally Iran.
Hezbollah, which was not involved in the negotiations, has rejected the agreement and has repeatedly refused to accept the disarmament envisaged under the deal.
with Reuters
