Lebanese army troops have begun deploying to a "pilot zone" in the country's south, marking a step in the implementation of a US-brokered agreement that includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the disarmament of Hezbollah. The Lebanese army command announced that units entered the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district on Tuesday morning.
Israel's military confirmed the start of the pilot zone plan on Monday night. The plan entails Israeli troops pulling out of a small section of territory occupied during the conflict with Hezbollah and the subsequent disarmament of the Iran-backed group. This development precedes a meeting in Washington between US President Donald Trump and his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun.
President Aoun is expected to use the meeting to press President Trump to exert pressure on Israel to complete its withdrawal from the remainder of southern Lebanon. He is also anticipated to seek support for the Lebanese army to assume full control of areas where Hezbollah maintains influence.
The recent conflict began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel in response to an airstrike that killed Iran's supreme leader. Israel subsequently initiated a bombing campaign across Lebanon and launched an invasion into a significant portion of the country's south.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, the conflict has resulted in over 4,300 deaths in Lebanon, including nearly 800 children, women, and medics. Israeli authorities report that 37 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed on both sides of the border during the hostilities.
