The move is part of the framework agreed between Beirut and Jerusalem in Washington last month.
The United States announced on July 20 that operations in three Lebanese villages deemed part of a “pilot zone” had begun, as part of the implementation of an agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon.
The U.S. Department of State said in a statement that operations “began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”
“This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. The United States will continue working closely with both parties to implement the Framework to a successful conclusion,” the department added, without giving any further specifics.
The move is part of the framework agreed between Beirut and Jerusalem in Washington last month, which requires Israeli forces to gradually turn over territorial control of southern Lebanon to the Lebanese government. In turn, the Lebanese government is expected to disarm Hezbollah, a terrorist organization based in Lebanon and aligned with Iran.
Hezbollah was formed in the 1980s in opposition to an Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon that concluded in 2000. Hezbollah and Israeli forces have continued to clash in the years since then.
Of the three villages, Froun and Srifa are not under Israeli military control, and the Lebanese army is present there, while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are in part of Zawtar al-Gharbieh.
The IDF and Lebanese army both confirmed the move on July 20, with the IDF saying in a post on X that “in accordance with the directives from the political echelon, the ‘Safe Zone’ pilot program began today (Monday) in southern Lebanon, in cooperation with the U.S. military and the Lebanese Armed Forces.”
“As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the U.S. military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are conducting coordination and planning for the continued implementation of the agreement,” the IDF said, adding that it will “respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.”
By Guy Birchall
