Israel Withdraws From Three Lebanese Villages as Lebanese Army Takes Security Role

The U.S. State Department officially announced on Monday the launch of a pilot project in three Lebanese villages, Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun withdrawing to allow the Lebanese Army to assume security responsibility. This move is part of the trilateral framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon and mediated by the United States. The initiative aims to dismantle Hezbollah's presence in these areas and strengthen regional stability through coordinated security arrangements.

The State Department described the pilot as a milestone in implementing the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, following talks held last week in Rome. The framework stipulates a gradual transfer of full and effective security control to the Lebanese Army in designated pilot zones, enabling a phased redeployment of the IDF and Lebanese forces. The U.S. pledged continued close cooperation with both parties to ensure the framework's successful completion.

During the recent Rome negotiations, proposals were made to deploy Italian troops to oversee the disarmament of Hezbollah militants and to have UNIFIL supervise the process. However, both Israel and the United States strongly opposed UNIFIL's involvement. The pilot project marks the first step in a broader security arrangement intended to stabilize southern Lebanon and formalize military coordination between Israel and Lebanon under American mediation.