Conflict & Security
Lebanon PM says government is pursuing full Israeli withdrawal
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said his government would continue political and diplomatic efforts to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. He spoke on Wednesday in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a village where Lebanon's army has recently deployed and where Israeli forces had previously been present on the outskirts after the war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Salam's visit followed a White House meeting a day earlier between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US President Donald Trump. Aoun said there was an urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
Under a US-sponsored agreement signed last month, Lebanon's army is to disarm Hezbollah, while the Israeli military is to withdraw from pilot zones where Lebanese forces will then deploy. Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and says it will not give up its weapons.
The Lebanese military said on Tuesday that Israeli forces opened fire near troops deploying at Zawtar al-Gharbiya. Israel's army said its troops fired warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area that Israel said was not part of the pilot zone.
After planting a Lebanese flag in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Salam said the state would work alongside the army's deployment to open roads, remove rubble and provide essential services so people could return safely to their homes and villages.
The war caused widespread destruction, especially in southern Lebanon. Violence has fallen since a US-Iran memorandum and the Lebanon-Israel framework deal were signed last month, but Israeli forces continue intermittent strikes on nearby towns. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported drone attacks on Nabatieh al-Fawqa and the Khardali area on Wednesday, as well as artillery shelling on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge.
Dozens of residents waited for permission to check their homes. Abbas Yaghi, 73, said people would enter the town with confidence because of the Lebanese army's presence. The military had told residents on Tuesday not to enter until the security situation stabilised. The army was sweeping Zawtar al-Gharbiya, which is next to the Israeli-occupied village of Zawtar al-Sharqiya.
Mostapha Ammar, 60, from Zawtar al-Sharqiya, said residents would follow the army if it allowed them to enter. Wafaa Ismail, 64, also from Zawtar al-Sharqiya, was not allowed into the neighbouring village during Salam's visit and said he should have brought residents in with him.
The National News Agency also said Israeli troops moved toward the Dubieh area near Shaqra, further south near the border, and raised an Israeli flag at the historic Dubieh castle. Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame called the move hostile and provocative and said Lebanon would seek to restore sovereignty over castles in the south.
In May, Israeli forces seized the strategic crusader-era Qalaat al-Chakif, also known as Beaufort Castle. The United Nations looks set to list five south Lebanon castles, including Beaufort and Dubieh, also known as Qalaat Chakra, as world treasures under threat while UNESCO member states meet in South Korea.
Update
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump at the White House a day earlier and stressed the need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
A US-sponsored agreement signed last month says Lebanon's army is to disarm Hezbollah and Israel is to withdraw from pilot zones where Lebanese forces will deploy.
Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and refuses to disarm.
Lebanon's military said Israeli forces opened fire near troops deploying at Zawtar al-Gharbiya, while Israel's army said it fired warning shots after Lebanese soldiers entered an area outside the pilot zone.
Salam said the government would work alongside the army deployment to open roads, remove rubble and restore essential services so residents could return.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported Israeli drone attacks, artillery shelling and an incursion near Shaqra, including the raising of an Israeli flag at Dubieh castle.
Lebanese Culture Minister Ghassan Salame called the flag-raising a hostile and provocative act.
The United Nations looks set to list five south Lebanon castles, including Beaufort and Dubieh, as world treasures under threat.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 19:46:20 UTC.
Update
President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump at the White House a day earlier and stressed the need for full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
A US-sponsored agreement signed last month says Lebanon's army is meant to disarm Hezbollah and Israel is to withdraw from pilot zones where Lebanese forces will deploy.
Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the agreement and refuses to disarm.
Lebanon's military said Israeli forces opened fire near troops deploying at Zawtar al-Gharbiya, while the Israeli military said it fired warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area outside the pilot area.
The United Nations says more than 700,000 people have returned to their homes in recent weeks.
Residents were waiting for permission to enter or check homes, and the army had told them to avoid entering until the security situation stabilised.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 10:47:49 UTC.
Update
Lebanon's army began deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Tuesday.
The village is one of several pilot zones meant to show that the Lebanese army can remove and disarm Hezbollah under a Washington-sponsored deal with Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump at the White House the day before Salam's visit and said he stressed the need for a full Israeli withdrawal.
The Lebanese military said Israeli forces opened fire near its units and that this would hinder deployment.
The Israeli military said it fired warning shots into the air after Lebanese soldiers entered an area it said was not part of the pilot area.
Salam said authorities would work on roads, rubble removal and essential services to enable residents to return.
Lebanese authorities say Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,300 people since March.
The United Nations says more than 700,000 displaced people have returned home in recent weeks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 08:07:54 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Lebanese and Israeli military accounts differ on the incident near Zawtar al-Gharbiya, with Lebanon reporting fire near troops and Israel describing warning shots after Lebanese soldiers entered an area outside the pilot zone.
Residents were still waiting for permission to enter affected villages.
Source
AFP news report published on .