Attention is turning to southern Lebanon as preparations begin to implement the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under American sponsorship, at a time when Israeli reports revealed details of the first areas that are supposed to be included in the experimental Israeli withdrawal.
After signing the agreement in Washington last Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as a “historic” achievement that dealt a blow to Iran and Hezbollah, while Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem considered it “a waiver of sovereignty” and “non-existent.”
Yesterday, Saturday, Netanyahu appeared in a video briefing with a map behind him showing the two experimental areas that are supposed to be later handed over to the Lebanese army.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation revealed that the Israeli army will withdraw from the villages of Zawtar al-Gharbiya and Faron within the first experimental phase in southern Lebanon.
According to the map and Israeli reports, these two areas may include an area located north of the Litani River, and includes the towns and surroundings of Sharqiya Zawtar, Gharbiya Zawtar, and Yahmar Beaufort, in addition to the area surrounding Beaufort Castle, the town of Arnoun, Kafr Benit, and the outskirts of Mifidoun.
As for the area south of the Litani River, it may include geographical areas and towns located outside the front lines or what is known as the “original security zone.” It is considered one of the first deployment and inspection stations of the Lebanese army, and among it are some villages surrounding the central and eastern sectors, such as Deir Saryan, Taibe, Qantara, and other villages adjacent to the experimental deployment lines.
However, the final identification of these villages and the precise demarcation of the pilot zones remain the responsibility of the field military committees and the tripartite coordination group (MCG4L) that was agreed upon to be formed.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced yesterday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in cooperation with him, had instructed the Israeli army to prepare for a “long stay” within the security zone, which, according to him, extends up to ten kilometers into Lebanese territory, stressing that “there will be no redeployment or withdrawal as long as Hezbollah is not disarmed throughout all of Lebanon.”
It is noteworthy that the confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah broke out on March 2, before the Lebanese and Israeli governments began direct negotiations last April, while military operations between the two sides declined following the signing of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding on June 18, which stipulated stopping the war on various fronts, including Lebanon.
