An American military delegation has begun discussions in Beirut with the Lebanese army on implementing Israel's withdrawal from one of the "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, a Lebanese military official told AFP on Sunday.
Strikes despite the ceasefire
Despite the latest ceasefire, in force since June between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah, areas of southern Lebanon were targeted by Israeli strikes on Sunday, according to Lebanon's official news agency ANI. Seven people were wounded in the coastal village of al-Mansouri, the same source reported.
The framework agreement
Under a framework agreement concluded on 26 June, Israel must withdraw gradually from the areas of southern Lebanon where it has deployed troops as part of its war with Hezbollah. The agreement provides that the Lebanese army, long marginalised, will resume full control in two limited areas designated as "pilot zones".
"The American military delegation arrived and began meetings with the Lebanese army command to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the first pilot zone, from which the Israelis must withdraw to allow the deployment of the Lebanese army," said the military official, who asked not to be named.
"This is the main objective of the American military delegation in Lebanon: to translate the framework agreement into concrete measures and to ensure their implementation," he added.
"The first pilot zone will take effect within the coming days, while others are being defined and prepared," an American official who requested anonymity had stated in Washington this week. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) will coordinate the implementation of the zones with the two countries, according to the same official.
No timeline for withdrawal
The June agreement, which is rejected by Hezbollah, sets no timetable for the Israeli withdrawal. The Israeli authorities have stated that, as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed, their troops will remain deployed in a "security zone" ten kilometres deep.
Rome talks and Washington visit
A Lebanese official said on Sunday that his country will take part next week in Rome in the next round of negotiations with Israel, with which it has held five rounds of talks in recent weeks. Lebanon, which maintains no diplomatic relations with Israel, had until now made its participation in the talks conditional on the Israeli withdrawal from the two pilot zones.
The talks will precede the visit of President Joseph Aoun to Washington, expected later this month at the invitation of Donald Trump.
The displaced
The reduction in hostilities in southern Lebanon that followed the agreement has allowed more than 732,000 people to return to their homes, according to new figures released on Sunday by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). However, 430,000 people remain displaced by the conflict, the same source said.
