Washington, July 20 (dpa/GNA) – Initial steps to implement a security arrangement agreed by Israel and Lebanon, have begun in three localities in southern Lebanon, the US State Department said on Monday.
The department said “pilot zones” had been established in the villages of Froun, Srifa and Sautar al-Gharbiya under a trilateral framework agreement. It added that the United States would continue working with both sides to implement the accord. Under the arrangement, the Lebanese Armed Forces are to take control of the zones and disarm Hezbollah, while the Israeli military carries out a phased withdrawal. The pilot zones are intended to test whether the process can be implemented successfully, before it is expanded to other parts of southern Lebanon.
There was no immediate confirmation from either the Israeli or Lebanese governments. An Israeli government spokesman referred questions to the military, which did not immediately comment. The announcement comes ahead of a meeting on Tuesday, between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House.
Aoun has said he hopes the talks will help secure the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Israel and Lebanon agreed on the framework in late June. Under the agreement, Israel is required to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon only after non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah, have been disarmed, a provision that runs counter to demands by Hezbollah and its ally Iran.
Hezbollah, which was not involved in the negotiations, has rejected the agreement and has repeatedly refused to accept the disarmament envisaged under the deal.
GNA