BEIRUT, Lebanon: Lebanon’s military said Tuesday that Israeli troops opened fire near its soldiers as they deployed in a “pilot zone” Israel is to withdraw from under a US-backed agreement.
While troops were deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces “opened fire in the vicinity of these units”, the Lebanese army said, adding that “the attack will hinder the implementation of deployment in the pilot zones”.
A Lebanese military statement said that army units deployment in the pilot zones was being carried out through coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L).
Earlier on Tuesday, the Lebanese army said that it had begun deploying to an area in the south, one of three “pilot zones” outlined in a deal with Israel to disarm Hezbollah.
The announcement came with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visiting Washington, which sponsored the deal with Israel, for a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Israel invaded Lebanon during its recent war with Hezbollah, and it has continued to occupy parts of the country despite a ceasefire.
To date, Israeli troops have only controlled the outskirts of one of the pilot zones, with their occupation of other areas yet to be addressed.
The Lebanese military already has a presence in the other two pilot zones.
“Military units began deploying this morning to Zawtar al-Garhbiya” in the Nabatieh region, the army said in a statement.
Israel’s invasion of Lebanon started in March when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel.
Lebanon and Israel signed their framework agreement last month which aims for Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarming of Hezbollah, with Lebanon’s army taking over security in the south.
Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the deal and refuses to disarm, while there is no timetable for Israel’s full withdrawal.
The US State Department on Monday evening announced that the Lebanese army had begun ensuring security in the villages of Zawtar al-Garhbiya, Froun and Srifa.
Israeli forces are not present in the latter two villages, which straddle the edge of the security zone, while they had deployed to the outskirts of Zawtar al-Garhbiya.
A US official called the moment “an opportunity for the Lebanese state to begin to reassert real control in areas historically dominated by Hezbollah”.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, announced that it would “adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas”.
The Lebanese army’s deployment into Israeli-occupied lands, which cover an area up to 10 kilometres (6 miles) deep into Lebanon’s territory, constitutes a major test for the government.
Military expert Hassan Jouni said the military’s deployment will be “a real test, first and foremost, of the Israeli army’s seriousness about withdrawing” and “Hezbollah’s position on the ground regarding this issue, as it rejects the principle of pilot zones and the agreement itself”.
“The biggest challenge will be continuing withdrawals from other pilot zones that are actually occupied” by Israel, he added.
