A U.S. military delegation met with Lebanon’s army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from a designated "pilot zone" in southern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese military official. The talks mark an initial step toward applying a framework agreement reached on June 26, which calls for Israel to gradually withdraw from certain areas in southern Lebanon where its forces had been deployed amid ongoing conflicts with Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia militant group.
As part of the agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces are set to assume full control over two small areas, referred to as pilot zones, where Israel would pull its troops. The Lebanese official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, highlighted that the American delegation focused on determining the mechanisms to implement the withdrawal and enable the Lebanese army to deploy in the area.
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa had informed President Joseph Aoun that the delegation’s visit aimed to establish the modalities for executing the agreement. In Washington, a U.S. official indicated that the process had entered the implementation stage, with the first pilot zone expected to become operational within days, and additional zones under planning.
Coordination for the zones will be managed by the U.S. Central Command alongside both Lebanon and Israel. However, the framework does not specify a timeline for the full withdrawal. Israel has declared it will maintain a “security zone” extending approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory for as long as Hezbollah retains its arms. Despite an unofficial truce, Israel has continued intermittent air strikes in southern Lebanon, with Lebanon’s state news agency reporting several such strikes over the weekend.
Hezbollah has rejected the framework agreement, underscoring ongoing tensions in the region. Lebanon and Israel, which have no formal diplomatic relations, have engaged in five rounds of indirect negotiations since the outbreak of the most recent hostilities. The upcoming sixth round is scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday in Rome. Lebanon has linked its participation in these talks to Israel’s withdrawal from the two pilot zones.
These discussions precede a planned visit by President Joseph Aoun to Washington later this month, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the role of the United States as a mediator in efforts to stabilize the border region.