A pilot program for the Lebanese Army to enter specific areas to disarm Hezbollah is expected to start only in several weeks, according to an official familiar with the details.
An official familiar with the details told The Zioneer that a pilot program for the Lebanese Army to enter specific areas in order to disarm Hezbollah is expected to begin only in several weeks. The timeline represents a delay relative to earlier expectations — the framework had been discussed more optimistically earlier this week. The precise scope and location of the pilot were not disclosed, nor the reasons for the delay. The source did not say whether the Lebanese Army has already begun preparations, and no corroborating reports have been published yet.
Earlier Sunday, The Zioneer reported on the emerging Israel-Lebanon security framework: according to Israeli media, the framework includes two initial experimental security zones in southern Lebanon before further IDF withdrawals. The Lebanese Armed Forces must dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure there, with Israel independently verifying results. A separate report on the same day indicated that Israel insists on physical IDF verification of Hezbollah infrastructure dismantlement in Lebanon, citing past incidents in which the Lebanese military reportedly provided false reports to Israel. These reports were published at 15:13 Jerusalem.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, the security appendix stipulates that Israel will not rely solely on Lebanon's confirmation of pilot-zone site clearance — the IDF will physically enter to verify dismantlement. The clause emerged from past incidents in which the Lebanese military provided false reports to Israel, according to analyst Yinon Yitzhak.
Several details remain open: the precise start date of the pilot, the specific areas selected, the reason for the delay, and whether the Lebanese military has already begun any preparatory work. No official confirmation from either Israel or Lebanon has been provided beyond the single official cited.
3 developments
- StrongIsrael considers letting Lebanese army take over Hezbollah tunnel site as test of Beirut's resolve
- StrongDr. Jacques Neria: Hezbollah disarmament in Lebanon will be a long process, fighting far from over
- StrongReport: US wants Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah — but deep infiltration already 'exposed'
- StrongReport: US drafted plan for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon within 60 days
Source and signal
- Internal intake