The Lebanese army has begun assuming security responsibilities in southern Lebanon as part of a US-brokered pilot program. This trilateral framework agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States aims to transfer control of occupied areas back to the Lebanese government and end nearly five months of hostilities.
Implementation began on Monday in three specific pilot zones: Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya. Lebanese army troops deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Tuesday following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. This process is being carried out in cooperation with the US military.
The initiative seeks to establish safe zones and facilitate a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The broader objectives include keeping Iran-backed Hezbollah away from the Israeli border and ensuring Hezbollah's disarmament. However, Hezbollah has rejected the truce.