BEIRUT: A United States army delegation has met with Lebanon’s military in Beirut to debate the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from one of many “pilot zones” in occupied territory, a Lebanese army official advised AFP on Saturday (Jul 11).
Beneath a framework agreement reached on Jun 26, Israel will regularly withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon the place it has despatched troops as a part of its army marketing campaign towards Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shia motion that has lengthy battled Israel.
As a part of the settlement, the long-disempowered Lebanese army will take full management of two small areas dubbed pilot zones.
“The American army delegation arrived and commenced conferences with the Lebanese military command to debate the mechanisms for implementing the primary pilot zone from which the Israelis will withdraw, permitting the Lebanese military to deploy,” the official mentioned, requesting anonymity.
“That is the principle goal the American army delegation is bringing to Lebanon … it’s the translation and implementation of the framework settlement.”
US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa advised President Joseph Aoun on Thursday that “an American army delegation will arrive in Beirut within the coming days to … decide the mechanism” for the deal’s implementation.
In Washington, a US official had mentioned that “now we have moved to the implementation stage of the framework”.
“The primary pilot zone will launch in a matter of days, and additional pilot zones are being mapped out and deliberate,” the official mentioned on situation of anonymity.
US Central Command will coordinate on the zones with each international locations, he mentioned.
