US, Lebanon Work Out 2 Pilot Zones for Israeli Withdrawal as 7 Are Injured in South
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 11
US, Lebanon Work Out 2 Pilot Zones for Israeli Withdrawal as 7 Are Injured in South
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 11
Summary
US and Lebanese military delegations met in Beirut to design the first phase of a June 26 framework that would hand two southern “pilot zones” to the Lebanese army as Israel withdraws.
The deal still lacks a withdrawal timetable, and Israeli officials say troops will stay in a 10km-deep security zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed; Hezbollah has rejected the arrangement.
Seven people were injured in Israeli strikes on al-Mansouri on Saturday, while Lebanese state media also reported tank and bulldozer incursions in Beit Yahoun, fires in Houla and home demolitions in Nabatieh.
More than 732,000 displaced people have returned home, up from 640,000 a week earlier, but about 430,000 remain displaced after a war that has uprooted more than 1 million in Lebanon.
Rome is due to host the next Lebanon-Israel talks on Wednesday and Thursday, with Beirut tying participation to Israeli withdrawal from the two pilot zones before President Joseph Aoun's expected Washington visit later this month.
While diplomats discuss peace zones, Israel's army advances deeper into Lebanon. What is the true goal?
With UN peacekeepers set to leave, is a permanent security vacuum the future for southern Lebanon?
Hezbollah rejects the US-brokered deal. Can Lebanon's army control the south without its consent?
Lebanon-Israel Pilot Zones Agreement: Implementation Hurdles, Humanitarian Crisis, and Risks of Escalation in 2026
Overview
On June 26, 2026, the United States brokered a framework agreement with Israel and Lebanon to shape Lebanon’s future apart from the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The deal calls for a phased Israeli withdrawal from two 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon, but does not set a specific timetable. While U.S. pressure has led to some progress, Israel insists on keeping forces in a 10-kilometer security zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Hezbollah has rejected the agreement outright, creating major challenges for implementation and highlighting the deep divisions and fragile situation in the region.