Lebanese army troops begin deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Tuesday after Israeli forces withdraw from the area, according to a senior Lebanese security official cited by multiple outlets. The deployment follows a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. Reporting describes the steps as part of a staged process, in which Israeli troops pull back in phases while Lebanese forces move into areas in southern Lebanon.
The plan, described as a “pilot zone” programme by Reuters and echoed in other coverage, includes Lebanese army actions focused on weapons in parts of southern Lebanon, specifically the confiscation of weapons from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group. Meanwhile, the Israeli military states the programme has started, as reported on Monday. Several sources note that Israel provides limited additional comment following the initial move. Overall, the accounts agree that the deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is an early implementation step tied to the U.S.-mediated arrangement.
