A military source in the Lebanese army told Al-Sharq that army units began deploying in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, which is the first pilot area agreed upon for the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

The source explained that the Israeli forces were stationed on the outskirts of the town before withdrawing from it, noting that engineering units of the Lebanese army also began deploying inside the town.

The source stressed that there is no timetable yet for subsequent Israeli withdrawal operations, explaining that Zawtar al-Gharbiyah is the only pilot area where the agreement has begun to be implemented, and no second model area has been agreed upon so far.

Regarding the virtual meetings between the Lebanese and Israeli military delegations, the source said that a new date for the meeting has not yet been set, after the Israeli side canceled the meeting that was scheduled for last Friday, citing 'technical reasons'.

Earlier on Monday, the United States announced the launch of the first 'pilot areas' in Lebanon, paving the way for the deployment of the Lebanese army in them in parallel with the withdrawal of Israeli forces, following the talks held by the two sides in Rome last week.

The US State Department said in a statement that the step comes within the framework of implementing the 'tripartite framework' under the supervision of the special military coordination group for Lebanon, noting that it represents a 'direct fruit' of the negotiations that took place between Israel and Lebanon in the Italian capital Rome.

It added that operations began in the towns of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, according to the tripartite framework and under the auspices of the special military coordination group for Lebanon.

The Lebanese army announced on Monday that its military units continue to carry out their tasks in the southern areas, including the towns of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district and Srifa in the Tyre district, while continuing coordination with the special military coordination group for Lebanon (MCG4L) in preparation for beginning deployment in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah in the Nabatieh district as soon as Israeli forces withdraw from it.

The Lebanese army command called on 'citizens not to head to the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah at this stage, and to adhere to the directives of the deployed military units, for their safety, until deployment procedures are completed.'

Start of Israeli withdrawal

The Israeli army also announced the beginning of the withdrawal from the 'pilot areas' in southern Lebanon in cooperation with the US and Lebanese armies on Monday, 'based on the directives of the political level.'

It added in a statement that 'teams from the army will, in cooperation with the US and Lebanese armies, carry out coordination and planning work to continue implementing the agreement.'

The Israeli army spokesman warned that the army 'will act forcefully against any violation of the agreement.'

A senior Israeli official said that the Israeli army will begin, as of Tuesday, the withdrawal from the 'pilot areas' in southern Lebanon, according to what the Axios website correspondent reported.

In June, the United States, Lebanon, and Israel signed the tripartite framework agreement, which stipulates a reciprocal and sequential process starting with two pilot areas, in which the Lebanese army assumes security responsibility after verifying the disarmament of armed groups not belonging to the state and dismantling their infrastructure.

In return, Israel commits to reducing its forces and gradually redeploying outside Lebanese territory, in a phased and conditional manner, in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese army.