Lebanon

Lebanon.. Army commander inspects Zawtar al-Gharbiya after Israeli withdrawal

General Rodolphe Haykal, the Lebanese Army Commander, on Thursday inspected military units in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and stressed the need to take necessary measures to ensure a safe return for residents.

The visit comes within the framework of implementing the security arrangements agreed upon in southern Lebanon after the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Wassim Samih Seifeddine

23 July 2026 • Updated: 23 July 2026

photo: Lebanese Army page on X platform / AA

LÜBNAN

Beirut / Wassim Seifeddine, Anadolu

The Lebanese Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haykal, on Thursday inspected the military units deployed in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in the south of the country, following the Israeli withdrawal from it, stressing the need to take necessary measures to ensure a safe return for residents, within the framework of implementing the first phase of the 'Framework Formula' agreement.

A statement by the Lebanese Army said that Haykal, during his tour, reviewed the security measures and tasks carried out by the units in the area, despite the field challenges and difficulties.

The Lebanese Army had announced on Tuesday the beginning of the deployment of its units in Zawtar al-Gharbiya within the first phase of the 'Framework Formula' agreement, according to the mechanism derived from the tripartite understanding between Lebanon, America, and Israel concluded in Rome.

The Army Commander stressed the importance of taking measures that ensure a safe and healthy return for the town's residents, praising the efforts, discipline, and high morale of the soldiers despite the risks they face.

Zawtar al-Gharbiya, located south of the Litani River, is one of the experimental zones included in the first phase of the agreement signed on June 26 last year.

The agreement stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, starting with implementing a model in experimental zones, with the Lebanese Army assuming security responsibility in areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, along with disarming armed groups, in reference to 'Hezbollah'.

On Monday, the US State Department announced the start of implementing the experimental zone in the towns of Frun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, according to the tripartite framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.

Despite the start of the agreement's implementation, the Israeli army continues its violations, as it carried out explosions at dawn on Tuesday in the vicinity of the towns of Beit Yahoun and Kunin, without casualties, according to Anadolu's correspondent.

On Thursday, the Israeli army wounded a Syrian worker and destroyed homes and facilities in southern Lebanon, despite the Lebanese Army deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiya entering its third day within the first phase of implementing the 'Framework Formula' agreement.

Since March 2, 2026, Israel has continued its aggression on Lebanon, killing 4,328 people and injuring 12,230 others, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, and others since the confrontations in the region between 2023 and 2024, and it has penetrated more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during the current aggression.

Zawtar al-Gharbiya constitutes an experimental zone within the first phase of the Framework Formula agreement. The first phase aims to test the implementation mechanism before expanding it. The army commander's visit to inspect the units confirms the Lebanese Army's commitment to establishing security. Local and international circles are awaiting the developments of the agreement's implementation in subsequent phases.