The Lebanese army has started deploying troops into a designated pilot zone in the south of the country, marking a key step in a US-sponsored agreement with Israel aimed at disarming Hezbollah militants.
The military movement coincides with an official visit to Washington by President Joseph Aoun, where discussions are focusing on regional stability and security coordination.
Army officials confirmed that military units began entering the village of Zawtar al-Garhbiya in the Nabatieh region on Tuesday morning.
Footage broadcast on local media showed military convoys displaying the national flag as they advanced into the settlement, which lies along the edge of an area designated as a security zone by Israeli authorities.
The deployment forms part of a broader framework agreement signed last month, designed to facilitate a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops and hand security responsibilities over to official state forces.
The US Department of State confirmed that Lebanese soldiers are securing Zawtar al-Garhbiya alongside the nearby villages of Froun and Srifa.
American officials described the move as a crucial opportunity for the Lebanese state to re-establish control across areas previously dominated by Hezbollah.
The Israeli military announced that it will adjust its force posture within the pilot area as national troops take up positions.
However, challenges remain as Hezbollah leadership has repeatedly rejected the terms of the agreement and refused to lay down weapons, while no firm timetable has been established for a complete Israeli withdrawal.
