Lebanese Army Accuses Israeli Troops of Firing in 1st Southern Pilot Zone Deployment
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Lebanese Army Accuses Israeli Troops of Firing in 1st Southern Pilot Zone Deployment
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 21
Summary
Lebanese troops moved into Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Tuesday after an Israeli withdrawal, then accused Israeli forces hours later of opening fire near their units.
The army said the shooting could disrupt rollout of the new U.S.-brokered “pilot zone” plan, under which Beirut’s forces take over occupied southern areas and displaced residents eventually return.
Residents were told not to go back yet because security had not stabilized, underscoring how fragile the handover remains even after the initial Israeli pullback.
The phased deal, reached last month, is meant to test a broader wind-down of the conflict, but critics say it lacks a firm Israeli withdrawal timetable and instead ties further pullbacks to Lebanon’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Is this deployment a milestone for peace or the spark for a new war in Lebanon?
With experts calling disarmament 'impossible', is Lebanon's army marching into a civil war?
Hezbollah has rejected the peace deal. Can it succeed without their consent?
The 2026 Lebanon-Israel Pilot Zone Agreement: Disarmament, Humanitarian Crisis, and the Future of Regional Security
Overview
On July 21, 2026, the Lebanese army began deploying to southern villages as the first step of a US-brokered agreement aiming to create demilitarized 'pilot zones.' In these areas, the Lebanese Armed Forces are responsible for security and must ensure there are no Hezbollah weapons or infrastructure, paving the way for an initial Israeli withdrawal. This move seeks to build a buffer for broader stability, but it unfolds amid ongoing regional conflicts, including Iranian attacks and Israeli bombardments. The persistent fighting highlights the fragile environment and the challenges facing this attempt at peace and security.