Lebanese Army Reports Israeli Fire Near Troops Amid South Lebanon Withdrawal Pilot

The Lebanese Army reported that Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) opened fire near its units during a deployment in the southern Lebanese village of Zotar al-Gharbiya. The incident occurred as Lebanese forces were carrying out a pilot project initiated in the last day to test a gradual Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon alongside Lebanese Army deployment. The Lebanese military warned that the shooting could delay the pilot's implementation.

The pilot, launched by the United States, involves three villages in southern Lebanon: Farran, Sarifa, and Zotar al-Gharbiya. Its goal is to assess whether the Lebanese Army can become the sole armed authority in the area, prevent Hezbollah's return, and maintain security. Lebanese engineering teams have begun clearing streets and searching for explosives left by Israeli forces.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington amid ongoing tensions. The U.S. has issued warnings that any Hezbollah involvement in a potential U.S.-Iran conflict could provoke a broad Israeli response and further destruction in Lebanon.

Despite the pilot's progress, unresolved issues remain, including the lack of an agreed supervisory body to evaluate the Lebanese Army's effectiveness and undefined criteria for what constitutes "weapons-free" territory. Lebanon insists that a full Israeli withdrawal from remaining areas under its control is a precondition for continuing the agreement. Israel maintains it will preserve freedom of action and respond to any Hezbollah violations to neutralize threats and remain in the security zone as needed.