Lebanese Army Escalates Criticism of Israel Over South Lebanon Pilot Withdrawal

The Lebanese Army issued a statement on Sunday accusing Israeli forces of delaying the completion of a pilot withdrawal program in southern Lebanon. The pilot, initiated last week, involves Israeli troops pulling back from three villages to allow Lebanese Army deployment, coordinated and monitored by American forces. The Lebanese statement claims Israeli forces continue attacks and violations of existing agreements and international laws, including systematic house demolitions, shelling, and machine gun sweeps in several southern areas. These actions reportedly hinder the Lebanese Army's deployment and prevent residents from returning to their villages, undermining stability in the region.

The Lebanese Army also referenced a recent incident where Israeli troops fired warning shots after Lebanese forces crossed approximately 150 meters into the security zone, violating prior agreements. The Israeli military confirmed the warning shots were fired into the air only. Meanwhile, Israeli officials remain skeptical about the pilot's success, with former Unit 8200 commander Hanan Gefen expressing strong doubts about the initiative's viability from the outset.

The pilot program aims to reduce tensions by redefining control zones in southern Lebanon, but the recent escalation and mutual accusations highlight the fragile nature of the arrangement and the challenges ahead for achieving lasting stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.