Key facts
- Lebanon and Israel agreed on the structure and guidelines for 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon during U.S.-mediated talks in Rome.
- The agreement is part of a framework for Israeli troop withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment in designated areas.
- The ultimate goal of the framework is the disarmament of Hezbollah.
- Implementation of the pilot zone process is expected in the coming days.
- Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and stated it will not disarm.
- U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and southern Syria.
Lebanon and Israel have reached an agreement on the structure and guidelines for 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon following two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Rome. The framework, announced by the U.S. State Department, is a step toward implementing a June 26 agreement that envisions Israeli forces withdrawing from southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.
The pilot zones are intended to be areas where Israeli troops would hand over control to the Lebanese army, which would then clear the areas of any Hezbollah presence. The State Department described the talks as "productive" and stated that implementation of the pilot zone process is expected in the coming days, to be followed by expanded technical talks aimed at a comprehensive agreement.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had previously indicated that Lebanon would demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the pilot zones before further discussions. While specific locations for the pilot zones were not detailed in the latest statement, previous reports suggested they could include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh, and Zawtar. Some controversy had arisen in Lebanon regarding the proposed zones, as Israeli troops were reportedly not present in much of the selected areas.
Hezbollah has publicly stated it will not abide by the agreement and has no plans to disarm, seeking to link the end of the conflict in Lebanon to broader U.S.-Iran talks. Lebanon, however, has aimed to keep these tracks separate. U.S. President Donald Trump, in a separate interview, expressed a desire for Israel to withdraw forces from Lebanon and southern Syria, suggesting it could lead to calmer conditions.