(CNN)-- The United States announced on Monday pilot areas in southern Lebanon aimed at transferring control to the Lebanese army, a significant step in the ceasefire agreement between the two sides.

The US State Department identified in a statement 3 towns near the so-called "Yellow Line," which is the border of the territories occupied by Israel in southern Lebanon.

Only one of these towns was under the control of Israeli forces, while the other two towns were subject to Israeli attack during the war.

Under the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States, Israel is supposed to withdraw its military forces from these areas and allow the Lebanese army to enter.

These areas are supposed to be free of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that uses southern Lebanon as its stronghold. Israel has pledged not to fully withdraw from the area until Hezbollah is disarmed and forced to retreat from the border.

Images from southern Lebanon, published by CNN last week, show the Lebanese army patrolling several southern villages along the border, including villages that were under Israeli control, such as Bint Jbeil, and other villages that were subjected to intense Israeli bombardment, such as Nabatieh. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment.

This announcement comes one day before Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's visit to the White House for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Aoun will be the first Lebanese president to visit the White House since 2009.

Aoun met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, and Rubio said in a statement after the meeting: "The United States remains committed to supporting this effort and Lebanon's efforts to achieve security, peace, and a better future for the Lebanese people."