A senior US official said the implementation of the first pilot zones in Lebanon marks a real step forward, according to Barak Ravid (N12). The official detailed that the Lebanese Armed Forces will clear the areas of weapons and terror infrastructure, and warned that Hezbollah attempts to disrupt the process would severely undermine reconstruction and peace prospects.
A senior US official told Israeli journalist Barak Ravid (N12) on Monday evening that the implementation of the first pilot zones in Lebanon marks a real step forward, and warned that any Hezbollah attempt to disrupt the process would severely harm reconstruction and peace. The official detailed that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will clear the designated areas of weapons and terror infrastructure, verify the clearance, and maintain control to prevent Hezbollah from using the villages as hideouts. The remarks come hours after the US State Department confirmed the start of pilot operations, as The Zioneer reported throughout Monday afternoon.
Earlier Monday, at 16:05 Jerusalem, the US State Department announced that pilot zone operations had begun in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya under the trilateral framework agreement. Subsequent reports identified two of the villages — Froun and Srifa — as south of the Litani River, not under IDF control, while Zawtar Al-Gharbiya lies inside Israel's security buffer zone, where IDF forces remain pending withdrawal. The Lebanese army had deployed to Froun on Friday, and the US official's latest remarks provide the first detailed on-record description of the LAF's mission and the consequences of Hezbollah disruption.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday, the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in the first designated pilot area north of the security zone, and the US was expected to announce the pilot's start on Sunday. The defense establishment assessed that Hezbollah would oppose forced disarmament, potentially with force. The pilot is a key step under the framework agreement signed in Washington last month, aiming to restore Lebanese sovereignty over areas long dominated by Hezbollah.
It remains unclear how Hezbollah will respond to the pilot. The US official's warning highlights the fragility of the process, and the LAF's ability to clear and hold the areas against potential opposition has not yet been tested.
11 developments
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- StrongSenior US official says agreement reached on Lebanon pilot zone structure
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