US military delegation in Beirut to discuss Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon border zones

A U.S. military delegation has arrived in Beirut to negotiate with the Lebanese army on implementing Israel's withdrawal from designated "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon. This comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the region, which injured seven people in the coastal village of al-Mansouri, despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah in effect since June.

The framework agreement, signed on June 26, mandates Israel's gradual troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, where they have been deployed due to conflict with Hezbollah. Under the agreement, the Lebanese army, which has been marginalized in recent years, will regain full control of two limited sectors, known as "pilot zones."

"The American military delegation has arrived and begun meetings with the Lebanese army command to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the first pilot zone, from which the Israelis must withdraw to allow the deployment of the Lebanese army," stated a Lebanese military official who requested anonymity. This official added that the primary objective of the U.S. delegation is to translate the framework agreement into concrete measures and ensure their implementation.

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The American military delegation has arrived and begun meetings with the Lebanese army command to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the first pilot zone, from which the Israelis must withdraw to allow the deployment of the Lebanese army.

According to a U.S. official in Washington, the first pilot zone is expected to be operational within days, with other zones still being defined and prepared. The U.S. military's Middle East command (CENTCOM) will coordinate the implementation of these zones with both countries. The June agreement, which Hezbollah rejects, does not specify a timeline for Israel's withdrawal. Israeli authorities have indicated their troops will remain in a ten-kilometer "security zone" as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed.

Lebanon is set to participate in a new round of negotiations with Israel in Rome next week, following five rounds of talks in recent weeks. These discussions precede a visit by President Joseph Aoun to Washington at the invitation of Donald Trump later this month. The de-escalation in southern Lebanon since the June agreement has allowed over 732,000 people to return to their homes, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

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this is the main objective of the American military delegation in Lebanon (to translate the framework agreement into concrete measures and ensure their implementation).