Lebanese Army Enters 1st Pilot-Zone Village as Israel Begins Phased Pullback Under US Deal
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 20
Lebanese Army Enters 1st Pilot-Zone Village as Israel Begins Phased Pullback Under US Deal
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 20
Summary
Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh became the first of three pilot-zone villages to receive Lebanese army troops under a June 26 US-mediated framework for southern Lebanon.
The plan calls for Israeli forces to withdraw in phases while the Lebanese military takes over security and oversees the removal of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure.
Questions over implementation persist because the framework sets no withdrawal timetable, and local officials in Froun and Srifa said little or nothing had changed on the ground.
Israel said it is coordinating with Washington and Beirut, but the Lebanese army still warned displaced civilians not to return until security stabilizes.
The pilot rollout comes amid continued cross-border fighting since March that has killed 4,328 people in Lebanon, displaced more than 1 million, and left 36 dead in Israel.
Israel plans a 'withdrawal' from towns locals say were never occupied. What is the true goal of this peace deal?
With Hezbollah defiant and a history of failed pacts, is this US-led plan simply a prelude to the next war?
Lebanon-Israel 2026 Agreement: Phased Israeli Withdrawal, Hezbollah Disarmament, and the Risk of Renewed Conflict
Overview
On June 26, 2026, Lebanon, Israel, and the United States signed a US-brokered agreement after several rounds of direct negotiations. By July 21, 2026, both countries began implementing the deal by agreeing to create 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces are set to withdraw from these zones, handing control to the Lebanese Armed Forces, who will take sole responsibility for security. This phased approach aims to reduce conflict and restore stability, but faces challenges from local opposition and ongoing humanitarian concerns, making the agreement's success uncertain.