US Announces Pilot Zone in Lebanon Following Ceasefire

Residents evacuate in Beirut Lebanon due to Israeli attacks/DOK © WFP/Arete/Ali Yunes

JAKARTA - As a key step in the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the United States (US) announced the start of a pilot zone in southern Lebanon aimed at transferring control of the area to the Lebanese military.

Citing CNN, Monday, July 20, the US State Department mentioned three cities located near the "Yellow Line" - the border of the Israeli-occupied territory in southern Lebanon.

Only one of the cities was occupied by Israeli forces, while the other two were targeted by Israel during the war.

Based on the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Israel is required to withdraw its military forces from these zones and allow the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to enter.

The zones must be free of the presence of Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy group that has a power base in southern Lebanon. Israel has insisted it will not withdraw completely from the area until Hezbollah is disarmed and urged to withdraw from the border.

Photos from southern Lebanon shared with CNN last week showed LAF troops patrolling several villages along the border, including villages previously occupied by Israeli forces - such as Bint Jbeil - and other villages that suffered heavy Israeli bombardment, such as Nabatiyeh. CNN has contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for a response.

This announcement was made a day before Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was scheduled to visit the White House and meet with President Donald Trump. Aoun will be the first Lebanese president to visit the White House since 2009.

On Sunday, July 19, Aoun met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "The United States remains committed to supporting these efforts as well as Lebanon's efforts to achieve security, peace, and a better future for the Lebanese people," Rubio said in a statement after the meeting.