Lebanon
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Report: Aoun to present post-withdrawal action plan to Trump

President Joseph Aoun expects to hear from U.S. President Donald Trump a "commitment to guarantee a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon," U.S. diplomatic sources in Beirut have said, according to al-Akhbar newspaper.

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Lebanon army says Israeli troops opened fire near units deploying in 'pilot zone'

Lebanon's military said Tuesday that Israeli troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called "pilot zone" Israel is to withdraw from under a U.S.-backed agreement.

While troops were deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces "opened fire in the vicinity of these units", the army said, adding that "the attack will hinder the implementation of deployment in the pilot zones".

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Destruction of southern border towns persists despite deal

Israeli troops detonated and demolished houses in Kfartebnit, Mays al-Jabal, Beit Yahoun and Kounine on Tuesday and shelled overnight into Tuesday Nabatieh al-Fawqa and Ali al-Taher hill in south Lebanon.

On Monday, strikes targeted al-Mansouri and al-Zahrani region and demolitions were also carried out in several occupied border towns, including Arnoun, Kfartebnit, Bint Jbeil, Taybeh.

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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.

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In south Lebanon, Israel flag and checkpoint mark start of occupation

On the road to south Lebanon's coastal town of Naqoura, an Israeli flag hung over the deep blue sea, a stone's throw away from a metallic grid marking the Israeli-announced "security zone".

"Turn around, you don't have permission to pass," an Israeli soldier said through a loudspeaker to a convoy of journalists, including AFP, who joined a Christian NGO on an organized tour of still-inhabited villages in the occupied area.

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Aoun-Trump meeting: Hezbollah's disarmament and Israeli withdrawal

President Joseph Aoun is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, as pressure builds for Beirut to disarm Hezbollah, Israel's key condition before withdrawing from south Lebanon.

It comes a day after the United States, which has sponsored negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, announced the start of the implementation of an agreement granting the Lebanese army control over "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon.

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Aoun to meet Trump as pressure builds to disarm Hezbollah

President Joseph Aoun will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to wrap up a four-day visit to Washington, in a bid to bring about long-term calm in the war-torn country after months of war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Aoun's landmark meeting with Trump comes as Lebanon and Israel continue to hold rare direct talks mediated by Washington. Lebanon hopes they will result in Israeli troops withdrawing from large swaths of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy, and for the Lebanese military to receive support to assert full control in areas where Hezbollah militants had held sway.

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Army deploys to first 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbieh

The Lebanese army deployed on Tuesday to "pilot zones" in part of the country that had been under Israeli control following a deal sponsored by Washington, a military source told AFP.

The source said soldiers "have begun deploying to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbieh" in the Nabatieh region, following Israel's invasion of parts of the south during their war with Hezbollah.

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Will Italy play a 'verification' role in south Lebanon?

Contacts are underway between the United States and several European countries to strengthen the verification mechanism for implementing the pilot zone arrangements in southern Lebanon, a diplomatic source said.

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US says pilot zone operations in south Lebanon have begun

The United States on Monday announced the launch of the “pilot zone” process in south Lebanon.

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