Key facts
- Pilot zone operations have begun in Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon.
- The initiative involves the withdrawal of Israeli forces and deployment of the Lebanese army.
- The US-brokered framework aims to disarm non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah.
- Hezbollah has strongly denounced calls for disarmament and has not participated in the talks.
- Further pilot zones are being planned, with CENTCOM coordinating between Israel and Lebanon.
Pilot zone operations have been launched in the southern Lebanese villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, according to a statement from the US State Department. This initiative is part of a Trilateral Framework aimed at facilitating the full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army in these areas. A key component of the framework involves the disarmament of non-state armed groups, with a specific reference to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah has strongly denounced the calls for disarmament and has not participated in the ongoing talks. A US official indicated that further pilot zones are being mapped out and planned, with CENTCOM coordinating efforts between Israel and Lebanon. Technical teams are set to continue working on the issues outlined in the agreement, following a planned meeting in Rome.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has defended the framework agreement, stating it is the only pragmatic way to avoid armed conflict. However, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has strongly condemned the deal, describing it as a "humiliating and disgraceful" surrender of Lebanon's sovereignty. The US intends to mobilize diplomatic and financial assistance to help the Lebanese government restore sovereignty in these zones and more broadly across the country.