• Lebanon's army is deploying to three 'pilot zone' villages after Israeli forces' withdrawal.
• The plan aims for the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm Hezbollah, supported by US funding.
• Local residents claim the villages were never occupied by Israel, questioning the agreement's efficacy.
• Over 4,300 Lebanese have died in ongoing conflicts since Israel's strikes began in March.
• Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to meet US President Donald Trump to discuss further support.

Lebanon's military has begun deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and other designated villages, part of a US-brokered "pilot zone" plan following the Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories. This deployment is the initial test of an agreement reached by Lebanon, Israel, and the US on June 26, 2026, aimed at transitioning security responsibilities from Israeli forces to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in these areas, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

The framework outlines that the LAF will assume control and work towards disarming Hezbollah, which Israel considers a necessary precursor to any full withdrawal. This plan officially launched on July 20, with the LAF focused on confiscating weapons from Hezbollah operations, as stated by a senior Lebanese security official via Reuters and Middle East Eye.

Despite the official narrative, many local residents in areas like Froun and Ghandouriyeh claim their villages were never under Israeli occupation, which raises doubts about the legitimacy of the pilot zone concept. This sentiment is supported by Lebanese security sources indicating that these areas were not occupied, calling into question the agreement’s terms, according to reports from Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.

The Lebanese government hopes that the pilot zones will help restore control over areas previously occupied by Israel, as indicated by Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun, who has been outspoken about urging the US for more support and pressure on Israel to withdraw completely. His upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump is anticipated to address these issues, as reported by Reuters and BBC.

The ongoing conflict, marked by severe casualties—including over 4,300 Lebanese fatalities and significant infrastructure damage since the fighting began in March—underscores the urgency of these negotiations. This violence stems from Hezbollah's retaliation to attacks on Iran, reflecting the regional implications of the conflict, according to Middle East Eye and BBC.