US Military Delegation in Lebanon to Discuss Mechanisms for Israel's Withdrawal from "Trial Areas"

SadaNews - A US military delegation has arrived in Lebanon, where it has begun meetings with the Lebanese Army leadership to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the withdrawal of the Israeli army from "trial areas" between two locations in southern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese military source on Saturday.

Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26, which specifically called for the disarmament of Hezbollah and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army set to deploy starting from "two trial areas".

A Lebanese military source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "The US military delegation has arrived and started meetings with the Lebanese Army leadership to discuss the mechanisms for beginning the implementation of the first trial area from which the Israeli army will withdraw so the Lebanese army can deploy."

The source added, "This is the main agenda that the US military delegation is bringing to Lebanon...and it is the translation and implementation of the framework document."

Lebanese and American sources reported, on Thursday, that a US military delegation will oversee the commencement of Israel's withdrawal from "two trial areas" in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese presidency announced on Thursday that President Joseph Aoun was informed by US Ambassador Michel Aoun that the military delegation will arrive soon in Lebanon to supervise the start of this withdrawal as part of the agreement's implementation.

In Washington, a US official stated, "We are now in the implementation phase of the framework." He added, "The first trial area will be initiated within days, and maps for additional trial areas are currently being prepared and planned."

He explained that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) will coordinate this matter with both countries. He added, "We will soon begin communicating with international partners to assist the Lebanese government in effectively restoring its sovereignty in these areas and across the country more broadly."

Lebanon demands that Israel withdraw from "two trial areas" in the southern part of the country as a prerequisite for participating in a new round of negotiations set for next week in Rome, according to a diplomatic source involved in the negotiations.

The agreement does not specify a timeline for the withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Israel has reiterated through its officials that its forces will not withdraw from a security zone ten kilometers deep from its borders until after Hezbollah's disarmament, a step that analysts doubt the Lebanese state can achieve.

Hezbollah rejects disarming and direct negotiations with Israel and its outcomes, relying on its supporter Iran to halt the Israeli war.

A cessation of hostilities was established by an agreement signed by Washington and Tehran to stop the American-Israeli war, including in Lebanon, just days prior to the signing of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Rome on the 15th and 16th of this month, at Washington's request, which hosted the first five rounds. Lebanon has not yet officially confirmed its participation.

The upcoming negotiation round will occur days before a planned visit by the Lebanese president to Washington at the invitation of his American counterpart Donald Trump, which the Lebanese presidency stated on Thursday will take place during the last week of July.