Lebanon army says ‘Israeli’ troops opened fire near units deploying in “pilot zone”

Lebanon's military said Tuesday that ‘Israeli’ troops fired near its soldiers deploying in a so-called "pilot zone" ‘Israel’ is to withdraw from under a US-backed agreement.

While troops were deploying in Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, ‘Israeli’ forces "opened fire in the vicinity of these units", the army said, adding that "the attack will hinder the implementation of deployment in the pilot zones".

Earlier on Tuesday, the Lebanese army announced that it had begun deploying to an area in the south, one of three "pilot zones" outlined in a deal with ‘Israel’ to disarm Hezbollah.

The announcement came with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun visiting Washington, which sponsored the deal with ‘Israel’, for a meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

‘Israel’ invaded Lebanon during its recent war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, and it has continued to occupy parts of the country despite a ceasefire.

To date, ‘Israeli’ troops have only controlled the outskirts of one of the so-called pilot zones, with their occupation of other areas yet to be addressed.

The Lebanese military already has a presence in the other two pilot zones.

"Military units began deploying this morning to Zawtar al-Garhbiya" in the Nabatieh region, the army said in a statement.

‘Israel's’ invasion came after Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the wider Middle East war in March with rocket attacks on ‘Israel’ after the aerial offensive against Iran on February 28.

Lebanon and ‘Israel’ signed their framework agreement last month which aims for ‘Israel’s’ gradual withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarming of Hezbollah, with Lebanon's army taking over security in the south.

Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the deal and refuses to disarm, while there is no timetable for ‘Israel's’ full withdrawal.

The US State Department on Monday evening announced that the Lebanese army had begun ensuring security in the villages of Zawtar al-Garhbiya, Froun and Srifa.

‘Israeli’ forces are not present in the latter two villages, which straddle the edge of the security zone, while they had deployed to the outskirts of Zawtar al-Garhbiya.

A US official called the moment "an opportunity for the Lebanese state to begin to reassert real control in areas historically dominated by Hezbollah".

The ‘Israeli’ military, meanwhile, announced that it would "adjust its force posture in one of the pilot areas".

“Test”

The Lebanese army's deployment into ‘Israeli’-occupied lands, which cover an area up to 10 kilometres (6 miles) deep into Lebanon's territory, constitutes a major test for the government, with experts expressing doubt over its ability to disarm Hezbollah.

Military expert Hassan Jouni said the military's deployment will be "a real test, first and foremost, of the Israeli army's seriousness about withdrawing" and "Hezbollah's position on the ground regarding this issue, as it rejects the principle of pilot zones and the agreement itself".

"The biggest challenge will be continuing withdrawals from other pilot zones that are actually occupied" by Israel, he added.

The developments come with Aoun expected to ask Trump for further pressure on ‘Israel’ to withdraw from Lebanese territory.