In first, Lebanese army deploys in southern ‘pilot zone’ after Israel withdraws
Deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is a test of the US-brokered plan for IDF pullout; Lebanese Armed Forces urges displaced residents to not return to their homes yet
Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh Tuesday after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) said in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south.
The LAF statement was referring to the initial pullout by the Israel Defense Forces units laid out as part of the plan, which envisions Lebanese army troops confiscating weapons from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah terror group in parts of southern Lebanon and phased withdrawals of Israeli troops, who are eventually meant to leave Lebanon.
The Israeli military said a day earlier that the plan, dubbed the pilot zone program, has begun, but did not immediately confirm Tuesday it has withdrawn forces from any areas in south Lebanon.
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Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-lebanese-army-deploys-in-southern-pilot-zone-after-israeli-withdrawal/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTMradleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXNE7iKr6kFu3NcQha9_EPiBD-gvdBiv9dHlPi523ydxioKG2Jym1v8xoh7A_aem_56eXQcs4EsqP6DZKj0ZjTw