Lebanese Army Begins Southern Deployment as Israel-Hezbollah Deal Faces First Test

Key Facts

Published: July 20, 2026 Location: Jerusalem Source: U.S. Department of State, Israel Defense Forces, Lebanese Armed Forces, Times of Israel, Associated Press

• Lebanese forces began deploying in three southern villages under a U.S.-brokered pilot program.
• Israel is expected to conduct its first withdrawal from Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Tuesday.
• Further Israeli redeployments depend on the removal of Hezbollah weapons and military infrastructure.

Pilot operation could lead to phased Israeli withdrawal if Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure are removed

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – The Lebanese Armed Forces began operations Monday to assume security responsibility in three southern villages, marking the first on-the-ground test of a U.S.-brokered framework aimed at securing an eventual Israeli withdrawal and dismantling Hezbollah’s military presence in the region.

The U.S. State Department said Lebanese troops had launched “pilot zone operations” in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya under the supervision of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.

Israeli forces are expected to withdraw Tuesday from the Zawtar al-Gharbiya area, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Axios, allowing Lebanese troops to enter the village. Froun and Srifa are outside Israel’s current security buffer and do not require an Israeli withdrawal.

The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli, American and Lebanese military teams were coordinating the next stages of the pilot program. The Lebanese army warned civilians not to enter Zawtar al-Gharbiya until the deployment is completed.

The framework agreement, signed by Israel, Lebanon and the United States on June 26, calls for the Lebanese military to take sole control of areas vacated by Israel and verify that Hezbollah weapons, personnel and military infrastructure have been removed.

“This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome,” the State Department said.

The deployment represents a significant test of whether the Lebanese government can exercise genuine sovereignty in the south, where the Iranian-backed Hezbollah organization has long maintained military control.

Hezbollah has rejected the framework and has not indicated whether it will attempt to obstruct the Lebanese military’s deployment. Israeli officials have said troops will remain inside a roughly six-mile security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed and the threat to northern Israel is removed.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is expected to meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday as the administration presses Beirut to eliminate Hezbollah’s independent armed forces.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that Lebanon could not achieve lasting peace while Hezbollah continues to operate as both a political organization and an Iranian-funded militia.

“As long as that problem exists, Lebanon will never fully be at peace,” Rubio said.

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