What will Lebanese Army do in pilot zones?
The Lebanese Army will be responsible for the pilot zones from which Israel will withdraw in south Lebanon, a U.S. official told U.S. news portal Axios.
It will “clear them of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure, conduct verified clearance operations and secure the areas so Hezbollah cannot use them for military activity,” the official said.
The U.S. is still negotiating with Israel and Lebanon over who will verify that the Lebanese Army cleared the areas so that the next phase of the withdrawal can take place, Israeli officials said.
A senior Israeli official said the Israeli army withdrawal started on Tuesday morning local time.
The Israeli army official called the initial withdrawal "a test for the Lebanese Armed Forces' sovereignty in the three pilot villages."
"The establishment of these initial pilot zones represents real progress on the ground," a U.S. official said.
The official stressed that the Trump administration hopes the pilot zones will "build confidence" between Israel and Lebanon and "create the momentum needed to expand the process."
"We expect all parties to respect this process. Any attempt by Hezbollah to derail, infiltrate, or re-arm in these zones would seriously harm the prospects for reconstruction and peace, and the interests of the Lebanese people," the U.S. official said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has become deeply invested in the Lebanese issue over the last few months. He is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to complete the withdrawal of the Israeli military from southern Lebanon.
But both Trump and Aoun recognize that a real acceleration of the pullout and a possible breakthrough toward a lasting peace deal can't happen until after the Israeli elections in October.
Source: Naharnet
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