A pilot program under 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 sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
Later on Monday, the US State Department confirmed that pilot zone operations began in three southern Lebanon villages ” in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”
The State Department said that the operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The development follows last week’s meeting in Rome between the Israeli and Lebanese delegations, led by Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Mouawad, under the auspices of senior US administration officials.
An Israeli official said after last week’s talks that the sides had reached an agreement on the two designated pilot areas.
The official added that the discussions were constructive and further reinforced the understanding that Israel and Lebanon agree on the need to disarm Hezbollah.
“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 said.
Rubio, Aoun discuss implementing trilateral framework, Hezbollah disarmament
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the implementation of the trilateral framework agreement between the US, Lebanon, and Israel during Aoun’s visit to Washington on Sunday.
Aoun, according to a statement released by his office on X/Twitter, emphasized to Rubio the necessity for Lebanon and the US to remain in alignment regarding the implementation of the framework, specifically regarding 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.
According to Aoun’s office, Rubio asserted that full Lebanese sovereignty “can only be achieved by a Lebanese decision issued by the Lebanese constitutional institutions.
Goldie Katz contributed to this report.
