United States Announces Launch of Pilot Zones in Southern Lebanon

The United States formally declared on Monday the commencement of operations in the initial pilot zones in southern Lebanon, as part of the implementation mechanism of the trilateral framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, overseen by the United States.

A statement from the spokesperson of the US Department of State, Tommy Beghout, confirmed that the operations began in the villages of Froun, Sarifa, and Western Zoutar.

The US State Department described this step as a "significant milestone" in executing the understandings reached between Israel and Lebanon, noting that it is a direct outcome of the talks held last week in Rome between representatives of the two countries.

The activation of the pilot zones represents the first phase in implementing the new security arrangement in southern Lebanon, which aims to enhance stability in the area and establish coordination mechanisms among the parties, mediated by the United States.

Attention is now focused on the upcoming summit between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 21, a visit regarded within Beirut as a pivotal moment to revive the ceasefire agreement process in southern Lebanon.

In earlier statements to "Iram News," a source in Washington indicated that during his meeting with the US President, the Lebanese President will emphasize the on-the-ground and political realities in southern Lebanon, while affirming that internal sovereign issues, primarily the future of Hezbollah's arms, remain a Lebanese matter to be addressed through constitutional institutions and internal dialogue, rather than through external pressures or demands that Israel seeks to impose on Lebanon.

On June 26, Israel and Lebanon reached a framework agreement stipulating the disarmament of Hezbollah's militia and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army, starting from two pilot zones, under US supervision and international monitoring.

A previous statement by the US Embassy in Beirut, quoting a US official, said: "We agreed on the structure and general principles of the pilot zones mechanism, to be finalized and implemented within days," adding that both parties will also begin "extensive technical talks focusing on implementing all provisions of the trilateral framework agreement" concluded in June.