Lebanon says Israeli troops built barrier in pilot village

Lebanese state media and the local mayor said Israeli troops entered Zawtar al-Gharbiya overnight Friday and built an earthen barrier in the village, one of two pilot zones where Lebanon's army had deployed under a June agreement with Israel.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said an Israeli force advanced into the village shortly after midnight and erected a new earthen barrier near the town square. An AFP correspondent saw the barrier at the village's eastern entrance.

Local authorities said it was unclear whether any Israeli forces remained in the area. Zawtar al-Gharbiya mayor Abed Ezzeddine told AFP the barrier was about 100 metres from the town square and that residents were surprised to see it in the morning.

A Lebanese military source told AFP the incident was a violation of the framework agreement.

Under the US-sponsored framework agreed in June, Lebanon is meant to disarm Hezbollah while Israel is supposed to gradually withdraw its forces. The Lebanese army deployed to Zawtar al-Gharbiya on July 21, and about 50 families have since returned to the village, Ezzeddine said.

Lebanon and Israel completed their seventh round of direct negotiations in Rome on Thursday. A Lebanese source told AFP that Israel refused to discuss withdrawing from more areas before making sure Lebanon's military had full control over the pilot zones.

Hezbollah rejects the deal and refuses to surrender its weapons. Israel still carries out intermittent strikes in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire in place since June.