BEIRUT / Naeem Berjawi / Anadolu

The Lebanese army said Monday that its military units will begin deploying in the town of Zoutar al-Gharbiya in the Nabatieh district, southern Lebanon, as soon as Israeli forces withdraw from it, as part of implementing arrangements related to pilot areas under the 'framework agreement' signed with Israel.

This comes shortly after the US State Department announced in a statement the start of operations in the first pilot areas in the towns of Froun, Sarifa, and Zoutar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, according to the 'framework formula' signed between Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship.

Channel 12 also reported the Israeli army's withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon starting Tuesday, without immediate comment from Tel Aviv.

The Lebanese army command said in a statement that military units continue to carry out their tasks in the southern regions, including the towns of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district and Sarifa in the Tyre district.

It added that it is following up with the International Military Coordination Group for Lebanon on the necessary procedures to begin deployment in the town of Zoutar al-Gharbiya after Israeli forces withdraw from it.

The army command called on citizens not to head to Zoutar al-Gharbiya 'to preserve their safety' and to abide by the directives of the deployed military units.

This comes after the conclusion of a sixth round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations last Wednesday in the Italian capital Rome, which resulted in a preliminary agreement to designate two pilot areas to begin implementing the Israeli withdrawal.

The agreement represented limited progress in negotiations since the signing of the 'framework formula' in late June 2026, while more sensitive issues were postponed to later rounds, along with a supplementary military meeting.

The 'framework formula' stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, starting with the application of a model in two pilot areas.

The formula did not include a timeline for withdrawal, linking its completion to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, along with disarming armed groups, in reference to 'Hezbollah'.

Since March 2, 2026, Israel has continued its aggression on Lebanon, resulting in 4,328 dead and 12,230 wounded since March 2, 2026, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades and others since the confrontations between 2023 and 2024, and has advanced during the current aggression to a distance exceeding 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory.