The Lebanese army continues field surveys in the town of Western Zouatar, from which the Israeli army withdrew on Tuesday, in preparation for the entry of civilian residents, amid security measures and a visit by Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal to the first towns included in the framework of the model zone.

The army commander inspected the deployment of military units in the town of Western Zouatar, after two days of intensive work in its neighborhoods to dismantle war remnants, allowing residents to return and inspect the damage and landmarks that suffered extensive destruction. Sources said the town is nearly devoid of any signs of life, after Israeli forces intensified destruction of homes and facilities during their occupation of the town's outskirts and repeated incursions; they carried out extensive demolition and blasting operations inside it.

Lebanese Red Cross ambulances enter Western Zouatar escorted by the army to evacuate the bodies of the dead (Reuters)

Meanwhile, teams from the Red Cross and the health authority entered the town, accompanied by a Lebanese army patrol; where the bodies of people killed in the recent war were recovered, according to Lebanese media, which said the ambulances underwent a thorough inspection by the Lebanese army before entering the town.

Thorough inspection of returnees

Residents originally from the town have not yet been able to enter Western Zouatar, pending the army's completion of search operations and securing the town from hazards and war remnants, and detecting suspicious objects and moving them to safe locations for disposal. As of Thursday, residents were gathering at the town's entrance, on the outskirts of the town of Qaaqiyat al-Jisr, waiting for official permission from the army to enter the town.

Lebanese women waiting for security clearance to enter the town of Western Zouatar (Reuters)

Field sources said the army is conducting thorough inspections of those crossing to the villages surrounding Western Zouatar and those included in the experimental zone framework, specifically in Srifeh and Froun. The sources explained in statements to Asharq Al-Awsat that the army 'subjects all cars and vehicles to thorough inspection, and conducts patrols in those towns as part of a series of security measures it has been taking in the area since intensifying its deployment last week.'

The sources indicated that some residents of Srifeh and Froun 'have already returned to the town to inspect their homes,' noting that the extent of destruction in Froun 'is very large, preventing dozens of families from returning to the town, which prompted them to maintain their temporary housing locations in Beirut and its suburbs.'

The sources said that the destruction in Srifeh 'is less than that witnessed in Froun, but it prevents dozens of families from returning to the town due to the destruction or major damage to homes.'

Gunfire in the depths of southern Lebanon

Israeli forces maintain positions overlooking the experimental towns, whether in Eastern Zouatar, Yahmar, Arnoun, and Shaqif Castle from the north, or from the direction of Deir Siryan and al-Qantara from the east, and no withdrawals have taken place from them.

Smoke rises from an explosion carried out by the Israeli army in one of the towns of southern Lebanon (Reuters)

In the depths, Israeli forces opened fire towards border villages, from newly established military positions inside Lebanese territory. The National News Agency reported intensive machine-gun sweeping operations in the area of Nabaa Ibl al-Saqi; where Israeli vehicles continued to move in the area throughout the night. A Syrian worker was wounded by gunfire, before being transferred by the Lebanese Red Cross to Marjayoun Governmental Hospital. It was reported that two chalets were destroyed in Ibl al-Saqi adjacent to the town of Khiam, in addition to damage to a house near the spring.

An Israeli force also penetrated the town of Sirbin in the Bint Jbeil district, led by bulldozers and military vehicles, coinciding with bursts of heavy machine-gun fire towards the town.

The Israeli army carried out a large explosion in the town of al-Tiri, and Israeli artillery shelling targeted the outskirts of the town of Brachit. The Israeli army also conducted a sweeping operation in the towns of Shama and Majdalzoun with medium weapons.

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