Lebanese army says troops deploying in 'pilot zone' after Israeli withdrawal
Lebanese army troops have begun deploying into a 'pilot zone' in southern Lebanon following an Israeli withdrawal agreement. The move coincides with diplomatic efforts between the US and Lebanon to stabilize the region.
Why it matters
This deployment is a critical step in the implementation of a US-brokered agreement aimed at de-escalating the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google David Gritten and Bernd Debusmann Jr , at the White House Reuters Lebanese army engineering units entered the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Tuesday morning Lebanon's army says its troops are deploying to a "pilot zone" in the south of the country following the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered agreement reached last month.
Engineering units entered the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in Nabatieh district on Tuesday morning, the army command announced.
Later, it said Israeli forces had opened fire in the vicinity of the troops. Israel's military said warning shots had been fired after the troops crossed into the Israeli-declared "security zone".
The pilot zone plan should see Israeli troops pulling out of a small part of the territory occupied during their conflict with Hezbollah and the disarmament of the Iran-backed Lebanese group.
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