Lebanese troops take control of another ‘pilot zone’ in south after Israeli forces pull out

Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Tuesday after Israeli occupational forces withdrew from the area, a senior Lebanese security official said, in line with a US-brokered plan.

The announcement came during a visit to Washington by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, where the US sponsored the deal with Israel.

“Military units began deploying this morning to Zawtar al-Garhbiya” in the Nabatieh region, the army said in a statement.

The Lebanese military already has apresence in the Froun and Srifa villages, where Israeli forces arenot stationed.

The peace plan foresees the Lebanese army confiscating weapons from the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in parts of southern Lebanon and phased withdrawal of Israeli troops.

The Israeli military said on Monday that the plan, dubbed the “pilot zone” programme, has begun.

It had no immediate comment on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s handover of territory is the first test of the plan, which Lebanon hopes will enable it to restore control over a strip of land about 10 km (6.2 miles) deep into the country that remains occupied by Israeli troops.

Israeli forces have razed dozens of villages in the area and systematically destroyed vital civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, power stations and water pumps.