US official tells Reuters: First Lebanon withdrawal zone to be set in days

A senior US official told Reuters that the first area from which Israel will withdraw from southern Lebanon will be determined in the coming days.

A senior US official told Reuters on Thursday evening that the first zone of Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon will be determined in the coming days. The statement is the latest in a series of updates from the same official, who earlier in the evening confirmed that the trilateral framework agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States has entered the implementation phase and that all remaining pilot zones have already been mapped.

The Zioneer has been covering the withdrawal negotiations for weeks. On June 13, a Lebanese source cited by Israeli media said Nabatieh would be the first test area. On June 25, the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar reported that the US had drafted a 60-day plan for withdrawal. On July 4, The Zioneer reported that the commander of US Marine Corps forces under CENTCOM had arrived in Israel to plan the pilot withdrawal. And on June 18, the IDF said the withdrawal issue would be discussed in talks with the US next week.

The broader diplomatic context includes the first day of Israel-Lebanon negotiations, which concluded on June 24, and President Trump's prediction on July 8 that Israel would withdraw, citing close coordination with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Zioneer has also reported that the Lebanese army is expected to deploy in areas vacated by Israel, with the US overseeing coordination.

It remains unclear which specific area will be designated as the first withdrawal zone, and whether the timeline for subsequent phases has been agreed upon. The statement did not specify when the zone would be announced.

5 developments

1. 10 minutes ago · 22:36 · 9 JulLatest

   Lebanese army deployment timeline is more immediate than previously assessed.

2. 20:47 · 9 Jul

   First withdrawal zone in southern Lebanon to be determined within days.

3. 20:41 · 9 Jul

   Trilateral framework agreement has officially entered the implementation phase.

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