Lebanon’s military starts ‘pilot zone’ takeover in south

The Lebanese army has begun taking charge of security in three "pilot zone" villages in southern Lebanon—Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya—as part of a US-mediated framework agreement. This initiative, announced by the US State Department, aims for a phased Israeli military retreat from occupied areas, followed by the Lebanese military assuming security and overseeing Hezbollah's disarmament. The US stated, "This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome." Israel confirmed its coordination with the US and Lebanon on the program's implementation. However, local officials in Froun and Srifa reported no immediate changes or deployments, with Froun's mayor stating, "The situation remains unchanged, and talk is just talk." Hezbollah has rejected the agreement, demanding an unconditional Israeli withdrawal.