Conflict & Security
Lebanese troops enter southern pilot zones, military source says
A military source said the Lebanese army deployed on Tuesday to “pilot zones” in a part of southern Lebanon that had been under Israeli control.
The source said soldiers had begun deploying to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in the Nabatieh region. The deployment followed a deal sponsored by Washington, according to the source.
The report follows Israel’s invasion of parts of southern Lebanon during its war with the militant group Hezbollah.
Update
A military source said soldiers had begun deploying to the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The village is in the Nabatieh region.
The source said the deployment followed a deal sponsored by Washington.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 06:49:51 UTC.
Update
A military source said Lebanon's army has deployed to pilot zones in southern Lebanon.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 06:30:25 UTC.
Update
The phased Israeli adjustment follows US-brokered talks between representatives of Israel and Lebanon in Rome earlier this month.
The State Department identified the pilot zones as Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The Lebanese military said troops continued missions in southern areas including Froun and Srifa.
Israeli forces were reported to be present on the outskirts of Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The Israeli official said the pilot tests Lebanese Armed Forces sovereignty as the sole official armed authority in the area.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 20:46:11 UTC.
Update
The Israeli military said it would adjust its force posture in one pilot zone to help the Lebanese forces' mission.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 20:17:52 UTC.
Update
The pilot zones are Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, and they are intended to test the approach in villages straddling the Litani River.
The Lebanese army said it continued missions in Froun and Srifa and was coordinating deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiya while awaiting Israel's withdrawal from there.
Hezbollah rejected the framework and linked any arrangement in Lebanon to wider Washington-Tehran negotiations.
Israeli officials said forces would remain in a 10-kilometre security zone along the frontier as long as Hezbollah remained armed.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was due to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 19:23:07 UTC.
Update
The US State Department said operations began in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya under the Trilateral Framework and Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott linked the step to Israeli-Lebanese talks in Rome last week.
The June 26 framework signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States calls for a phased Israeli pullback and Lebanese army security control in vacated areas.
The Lebanese military said it was coordinating deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiya while awaiting an Israeli withdrawal from there.
The framework does not set a timetable for Israel's withdrawal, and Israeli officials have said forces will remain in a 10-kilometre security zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 16:58:37 UTC.
Update
The State Department said the operations began in pilot zones in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
Tommy Pigott said the step was a direct outcome of talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Rome last week.
The June 26 framework was signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States after several rounds of direct negotiations.
The framework provides for a phased Israeli pullback while Lebanese Armed Forces assume sole security control of vacated areas and certify they have been cleared of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure.
Hezbollah has rejected the framework and has not said whether it will resist implementation in the designated areas.
The agreement does not set a timetable for Israel's withdrawal.
Israeli officials have said forces will remain in a 10-kilometre security zone along the frontier for as long as Hezbollah remains armed.
A Lebanese military source said troops had begun intensifying patrols in villages adjacent to Israeli-occupied areas, including Froun.
The Rome talks came before Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's planned meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 14:02:58 UTC.
Update
The United States said the pilot zones were Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott linked the step to talks between Israeli and Lebanese delegations in Rome last week.
The framework was signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States on June 26.
The agreement does not set a timetable for Israel's withdrawal, and Israeli officials have said forces will remain in a 10-kilometre security zone while Hezbollah remains armed.
A Lebanese military source said troops had begun intensifying patrols in villages near areas occupied by Israeli forces, including Froun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was due to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 13:52:12 UTC.
Update
The United States said operations had begun in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
The source describes the move as part of a deal intended to secure an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
The United States said the operations were in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 13:34:53 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The deployment details are attributed to an unnamed military source in the supplied report.
Source
AFP news report published on .