Lebanese Army deploys forces to 1st pilot zone under US-mediated Israel-Lebanon agreement

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed soldiers on Friday to the first pilot zone in southern Lebanon following coordination with the Israeli military. The deployment took place near the Shiite villages of Randouria and Faroun, close to the Israeli border, as part of a U.S.-backed agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The two villages are located in the Bint Jbeil region, an area that previously served as a major stronghold for the Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist organization. Israel, which is preparing to transfer control of a second pilot zone, is reportedly considering a potential monitoring role for Italy.

The pilot zones are part of a U.S.-backed agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon during talks in Washington last month. The arrangement seeks to end hostilities between the two countries by linking an Israeli military withdrawal to the disarmament of Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon. The pilot program is intended to provide the Lebanese government with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability and willingness to deploy the LAF in areas previously dominated by Hezbollah operatives.

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism about the agreement while warning that significant challenges remain.

“There’s a lot of work ahead. We don’t in any way underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead, but we understand the importance of it, how vital it is, and we are honored to have played a part in bringing this together,” Rubio said following the signing of the trilateral agreement.

The Iranian regime and Hezbollah are firmly opposed to the agreement, viewing it as a threat to Tehran’s influence and Hezbollah’s military and political position in Lebanon.

The official launch of the pilot program involving Lebanese forces is expected to be announced on Sunday, ahead of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior American officials in Washington next week. The Lebanese presidency said Aoun would hold discussions “with several American officials on the situation in Lebanon and ways to strengthen the ceasefire” and discuss “the withdrawal of Israel from the Lebanese regions it occupies.”

The trilateral agreement envisions the Lebanese military gradually assuming “full and effective security responsibility” in areas transferred to its control.

Trump reportedly recently urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli troops from Lebanon and neighboring Syria. Israel has repeatedly stated that it has no territorial ambitions in either country but will maintain its military presence where necessary as long as threats to its national security remain.

In March, the Lebanese government banned Hezbollah’s military activities after the group launched another attack against Israel, triggering the current round of fighting. However, the Lebanese government and the LAF have so far been unwilling or unable to directly confront Hezbollah and prevent the terrorist organization from using Lebanese territory to launch attacks against Israel.