Above photo: Mohammed Zaatari/AP.
The plan aims for the Lebanese army to take over occupied areas from the troops.
But Israeli forces are absent in two of the designated pilot zones.
Washington announced the launch of its so-called “pilot zones” program in south Lebanon on 20 July, as part of a US-brokered deal between Beirut and Tel Aviv that was signed last month in violation of Lebanese laws.
“Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon,” the US State Department said in a statement.
“This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. The US will continue working closely with both parties to implement the Framework to a successful conclusion,” the statement added.
Reports over recent weeks indicated that three pilot zones had initially been declared as part of the plan: Froun, Al-Ghandourieh, and Zawtar al-Gharbieh.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had publicly named Froun and Zawtar al-Gharbieh as two initial pilot zones weeks ago.
The plan is meant to see the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) replace Israeli occupation troops in the designated “zones.”
However, it was quickly confirmed that Israeli forces were not present in either Froun or Al-Ghandourieh, having failed to enter the areas during fierce battles with Hezbollah during the initial weeks of the war.
This prompted local officials to question the plan altogether, and whether Israel had any intention of withdrawing from anywhere in south Lebanon.
While the new list of pilot areas announced by Washington on Monday includes Zawtar al-Gharbieh – an area inside Israel’s “buffer zone,” where occupation troops are present – Froun and Srifa are also included.
Just like Froun, Srifa is outside the so-called Israeli security zone and is not occupied.
The Times of Israel wrote on Monday that “two of the three villages mentioned notably don’t have Israeli forces located there.”
“The State Department doesn’t specify what it means by pilot zone operations beginning, but is apparently referring to the deployment of LAF forces in those three villages … It remains unclear when Israeli forces will begin withdrawing from the second zone, as no timeline has been provided,” the report added, confirming what other reports have said.
It also referred to Israel’s “foot dragging” on a potential withdrawal from south Lebanon, adding that troops “haven’t received a directive from elected leaders to pull out of the area” despite Tel Aviv “agreeing” on the pilot zone plan during recent US-sponsored talks with the Lebanese state.
Barak Ravid, Israeli reporter for US outlet Axios and Israel’s Walla newspaper, cited an Israeli official as saying on Monday afternoon that Israel’s “withdrawal from the pilot areas in southern Lebanon will begin tomorrow (Tuesday).”
Ravid provided no further details on the alleged plans for a limited withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The US–Lebanon–Israel deal stipulates that Hezbollah must be disarmed before any withdrawal of occupation forces can take place.
The deal would also bar Beirut from filing legitimate international legal complaints against Israel, which has killed over 4,300 Lebanese and displaced over a million since the start of March this year.
Reports say secret clauses aim to preserve continued Israeli occupation and “freedom of action” in Lebanon.
Israel continues to make public and official statements vowing that there will be no withdrawal from Lebanon, while Hezbollah vows to collapse the deal between Beirut and Tel Aviv and expel Israeli forces.
The resistance movement’s fighters remain entrenched across Israel’s “security zone” in the south, despite months of occupation and bombing.
Dozens of Israeli troops have been killed since March, and the army faces a serious manpower crisis and shortage of tanks.
Israeli army reserve forces are in a state of “de facto collapse,” with occupying brigades and battalions in Lebanon operating far below full capacity and strength, Israeli Army Radio reported on 14 July.
