The Lebanese army deployed to the first southern pilot zones following a US-backed agreement, but military officials reported that ongoing Israeli shelling, clearance operations, and bulldozing are obstructing efforts to secure the area and preventing displaced residents from returning home.
Weeks after the signing of a United States-brokered framework agreement aimed at securing the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, the rollout of initial security handovers has run into direct military friction on the ground. The arrangement, which was initiated by the Israeli military in cooperation with U.S. and Lebanese forces, designates specific geographic areas for Hezbollah’s disarmament, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the assumption of state authority by the Lebanese armed forces.
Yet the reality on the ground diverges sharply from the diplomatic framework. While the Lebanese army dispatched units to the southern villages of Froun and Srifa and prepared for deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, military statements released over the weekend accused Israeli forces of actively blocking these security transitions.
Military Friction and Obstructed Deployments in Southern Pilot Zones
The initial phase of the agreement centered on three pilot villages: Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Froun, and Srifa. However, the Lebanese military stated that continuing Israeli assaults, machine-gun combing operations, and artillery fire have made full deployment impossible. According to the military’s statement, these operations hinder the completion of the army’s deployment and stop residents from returning to their towns.
Civilians returning to parts of western Zawtar, Tibnit, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa encountered active gunfire. The Lebanese military added that Israeli forces were conducting bulldozing, shelling, and combing operations across Nabatieh, Hdda, Kunin, Bint Jbeil, Nabi Ibel al-Saqi, Khiam, al-Mansouri, Bayt al-Siyad, and Majdal Zoun in Tyre. Additionally, a water project in Markaba was blown up, and agricultural land and olive trees were razed near Aitaroun.
Netanyahu’s Visit and the 10-Kilometer Buffer Zone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited occupied Lebanese territory to inspect troops, making his first public trip there since the security agreement was reached. Accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and senior military officials, Netanyahu made clear that Israeli forces would not vacate the south immediately.
As part of its operations, the Israeli military has established a buffer zone stretching approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) inside Lebanon along the entire border. Israeli officials maintain that this zone is essential to protect northern communities. Netanyahu asserted that Hezbollah still retains roughly 12,000 rockets and missiles in its arsenal, and reported that the Israeli military has killed 9,000 militants in Lebanon since fighting flared in March.
Trilateral Coordination and Washington’s Expectations
To manage the transition, the agreement established a U.S.-facilitated trilateral body known as the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon. This group coordinates planning between Israeli, Lebanese, and American forces. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity described the pilot zones as a crucial step for the Lebanese state to reassert control over regions historically dominated by Hezbollah.
Under the framework, the Lebanese army carries the responsibility of clearing the zones of Hezbollah weaponry and infrastructure, conducting verified clearance operations, and securing communities so they cannot be used as staging grounds for attacks. Washington has signaled that it expects all parties to respect the process, warning that any attempt by Hezbollah to infiltrate or rearm within the pilot zones would harm prospects for reconstruction and peace.
Diplomatic Pressures and the Stalled Exit Schedule
Concerns over the lack of a clear exit schedule from Israel have persistently shadowed the agreement. Reporting from Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr noted that displaced residents have returned to find homes reduced to rubble, while Israeli forces remain stationed at the edge of the village, conditioning further movement on the dismantling of Hezbollah.
In response to the diplomatic gridlock, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun traveled to Washington, DC, last week to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to secure American pressure on Israel to comply with the terms of the agreement. Meanwhile, the broader conflict—sparked in March after Hezbollah launched rockets following the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—has left a devastating toll. At least 4,330 people have been killed, alongside 37 Israeli soldiers and four Israeli civilians in the latest round of violence.
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