The Lebanese Army announced on Tuesday its deployment inside the town of Western Zoutar in southern Lebanon, stating that its units were unable to enter the town of Eastern Zoutar, in the first practical test of implementing what is known as the 'experimental zones' announced by the United States under the framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

In an official statement, the Lebanese Army explained that Israeli forces approached the outskirts of Western Zoutar while its troops were carrying out the deployment mission and opened fire nearby, endangering the soldiers and impeding the mission. The Lebanese Army called on its Israeli counterpart to address any issues through the special military coordination group for Lebanon and the approved communication channels, instead of what it described as 'aggressions'.

In contrast, the Israeli army claimed that its forces spotted Lebanese army personnel accompanied by an engineering vehicle advancing about 150 meters into the 'security zone' in Eastern Zoutar, breaching barriers 'in violation of the understandings between the two sides.' The Israeli statement confirmed that its soldiers only fired warning shots in the air to push back the Lebanese force, noting that this did not endanger the Lebanese soldiers and that they later withdrew without any casualties.

These developments came a day after the US State Department, which sponsors the direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, announced the start of implementing the 'experimental zones' in three towns: Western Zoutar, Frun, and Sarifa.

The towns of Frun and Sarifa lie within the area that the Israeli army has classified as a security zone since September 18, despite not deploying forces there, while Western Zoutar is outside that zone. The Israeli army had announced on Monday night its intention to make adjustments to its positions in one of the 'experimental zones,' referring to Western Zoutar.

It is noted that Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement on June 26 after five rounds of negotiations, stipulating a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the areas Israel occupies in southern Lebanon, in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from two experimental zones, and working to confine weapons to the state and prevent any armed force outside official institutions.