Lebanon and Israel have taken significant steps towards implementing a withdrawal agreement, following two days of US-mediated talks in Rome. The US State Department announced that the parties have agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, which will be finalized and implemented in the coming days.
The talks, which took place on Wednesday, were described as ‘productive’ by the US State Department. According to the State Department, the parties have agreed on the framework for the pilot zone process, which will involve the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two designated areas in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army will then take control of these areas and clear them of any Hezbollah presence.
The withdrawal agreement was announced on June 26, laying out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from large swathes of southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The deal was intended to begin with two pilot zones, where the Israeli military would turn over control to the Lebanese army. However, implementation on the ground had stalled ahead of this week’s talks in Rome.
Lebanese President’s Stance
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is slated to visit Washington on July 21, had issued a statement ahead of the Rome talks, instructing the Lebanese delegation to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions. The President’s stance was in line with the Lebanese government’s efforts to minimize Iran’s influence in the region and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.
However, the designated zones for the pilot zones have generated some controversy in Lebanon. Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected area to begin with, raising questions about how a withdrawal could take place. The Lebanese army had pushed for pilot zones that were larger and included more area occupied by Israeli forces.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired missiles across the border, two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah and Iran had sought to link the end of the war in Lebanon to the outcome of broader US-Iran talks. The Lebanese government, trying to minimize Iran’s influence, aimed to keep the two tracks separate and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.
Peace Agreement
The June 26 Lebanon-Israel deal also envisions steps towards an eventual peace agreement between the two countries, which technically remain in a state of war nearly 80 years after Israel’s establishment. The State Department said that following the implementation of the pilot zones, ‘we will move to expanded technical talks with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon.’
Hezbollah has been vehemently opposed to the direct Lebanon-Israel talks and has said it will not abide by the agreement and has no plans to disarm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said publicly that they plan an extended occupation of southern Lebanon.
The State Department’s statement on Wednesday did not specify where the pilot zones would be, but Lebanese and Israeli officials had previously said they would include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh, and Zawtar.
The implementation of the pilot zones is seen as a crucial step towards a broader peace agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The success of this initiative will depend on the ability of the parties to work together and implement the agreement on the ground.
