A pilot program in which Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) troops will enter designated areas in southern Lebanon to verify they have been cleared of Hezbollah operatives and weapons is expected to begin in the near future, two people familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
Later on Monday, the IDF confirmed that the “Safe Zone” pilot program had begun with cooperation from the US and Lebanese militaries.
“As part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the US military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are coordinating and planning the continued implementation of the agreement,” the military stated.
Also on Monday, the US State Department said operations in pilot zones had begun in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon “in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”
No deadline had been given for the LAF’s demilitarization of pilot zones, an Israeli official told the Post, adding that further implementation is contingent on the success of the initial mobilization.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun attends a cabinet session to discuss the army’s plan to disarm Hezbollah, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR/FILE PHOTO)
Meanwhile, talks between Israel and Lebanon on the topics of normalization and demilitarizing Hezbollah are expected to resume at the beginning of August, the Post has learned.
The development follows last week’s meeting in Rome between the Israeli and Lebanese delegations, which were led by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Mouawad under the auspices of senior US officials.
Lebanon, Israel agree on pilot zones
Both sides had reached an agreement regarding the two designated pilot zones, an Israeli official said after the talks.
The discussions had been constructive and further reinforced the notion that Israel and Lebanon agree upon the need to disarm Hezbollah, the official said.
“The pilot areas will serve as a test of Lebanon’s ability to exercise its sovereignty in practice by implementing the agreed-upon conditions through the Lebanese Armed Forces under the supervision of [the United States],” the official added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed implementation of the trilateral framework agreement among the US, Lebanon, and Israel during Aoun’s visit to Washington on Sunday.
Rubio, Aoun discuss implementing trilateral framework, Hezbollah disarmament
Aoun, according to a statement his office posted on X/Twitter, emphasized to Rubio the necessity for Lebanon and the US to remain in alignment regarding the implementation of the framework, specifically with respect to the withdrawal of Israeli troops from designated pilot zones in southern Lebanon.
He also highlighted the importance of US support in strengthening the Lebanese military and investment in improving Lebanese energy, communications, and transportation infrastructure.
Rubio said full Lebanese sovereignty “can only be achieved by a Lebanese decision issued by the Lebanese constitutional institutions,” according to Aoun’s office.
A US official welcomed the launch of the initial pilot zones in southern Lebanon, describing the initiative as “real progress on the ground” and a significant opportunity for the Lebanese state to reassert its authority in areas long dominated by Hezbollah.
“The establishment of these initial pilot zones represents real progress on the ground,” the official said. “It is an opportunity for the Lebanese state to begin to reassert real control in areas historically dominated by Hezbollah.”
According to the official, the pilot program is intended to build confidence between the parties while creating momentum to expand the framework and advance broader efforts toward peace.
“As agreed, the LAF will be responsible for these zones,” the official said. “The LAF will clear the areas of terrorist weapons and infrastructure, conduct verified clearance operations, and hold and secure the zones so [that] Hezbollah cannot continue to use these communities as cover for their terror attacks.”
The official stressed that Washington expects all parties to respect the implementation of the initiative, warning that any attempt by Hezbollah to undermine the process would have serious consequences.
“Any attempt by Hezbollah to derail, infiltrate, or re-arm in these zones would seriously harm the prospects for reconstruction and peace, and the interests of the Lebanese people,” the official said.
The official added that the United States remains fully committed to supporting the Lebanese government as they implement this framework and work towards peace.
Goldie Katz contributed to this report.