Lebanese Army Accuses IDF of Firing Near Troops During Southern Deployment

The Lebanese Army accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday of firing near Lebanese units operating in the village of Zoutar al-Arabiya in southern Lebanon. The incident reportedly occurred while Lebanese forces were carrying out their duties as part of a pilot program to transfer security responsibility in areas from which the IDF has withdrawn. According to the Lebanese military, the shooting could delay the completion of the deployment and the implementation of the agreed plan. Zoutar al-Arabiya is the first area where the Lebanese Army began deploying following the IDF's withdrawal, under a program aimed at gradually transferring control to the Lebanese state and preventing Hezbollah from rebuilding military infrastructure there. No official response from Israel has been issued regarding the claim. The IDF had previously stated that it would maintain freedom of action and the right to respond to any threat or violation of agreements during the pilot phase.