Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited the southern village of Zawtar Al Gharbieh on Wednesday, asserting the government's commitment to securing a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanese territory. Salam's visit followed a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump, where Trump pledged support for the Lebanese government's efforts to assert authority nationwide.
A bilateral agreement, brokered by Washington and signed in late June, outlines the deployment of the Lebanese military in areas of southern Lebanon previously influenced by Hezbollah. This is intended to coincide with the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied villages. Both nations later agreed to implement the accord in a pilot zone comprising several villages. While Israeli forces have conducted operations in these areas, they have not maintained a continuous occupation, and the Lebanese army has not yet established a significant presence.
The recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, initiated by Hezbollah's rocket fire towards Israel in solidarity with Iran. Israel responded with aerial bombardments and a ground invasion into Lebanon, resulting in over 4,000 fatalities and displacing 1.2 million people. Lebanese leadership has criticized Hezbollah for initiating the war while also condemning Israel's extensive military actions.
During his visit, Salam, accompanied by the defense minister and senior military officials, unfurled a Lebanese flag near a damaged building. He declared the government's intention to commence reconstruction of destroyed homes and infrastructure. "We have insisted since the beginning that our goal is the complete Israeli withdrawal from all our territory," Salam stated. "What we are seeing today is just the beginning, but we remain determined and steadfast, and will continue to mobilize all political and diplomatic efforts to secure a full withdrawal from all of Lebanese territory."
Hezbollah has publicly criticized the Lebanese government for engaging in direct talks with Israel and has rejected the agreement. However, the group has not militarily obstructed its implementation. The militant organization believes that diplomatic channels alone are insufficient to compel an Israeli withdrawal and that Lebanon lacks the negotiating leverage possessed by its ally, Iran.
President Trump, during his White House meeting with President Aoun, did not extensively discuss the pilot zone's implementation phase but offered unspecified support for Lebanon. The Lebanese government has appealed to the international community for investment to aid in rebuilding the nation's infrastructure and bolstering its military capabilities.