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Fire Near Deploying Troops
Israeli forces opened fire near Lebanese army troops as they deployed in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the Lebanese army said on Tuesday, warning the incident could jeopardize implementation of a pilot deployment under a framework agreement negotiated by the United States with Israel.
“Israeli forces opened fire on Tuesday near Lebanese army troops”
The Lebanese army said its units came under fire while carrying out a deployment operation in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and warned that the attack could impede deployment measures in the pilot zones carried out in coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L).
Anadolu reported that the Lebanese army’s engineering regiment entered the town and began conducting field surveys in the streets to detect potential explosives and remnants left by the Israeli army ahead of the full deployment of Lebanese forces.
The U.S. State Department announced on Monday the launch of pilot operations in the Lebanese villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh as part of the framework agreement reached between Beirut and Tel Aviv, and no casualties were reported at the time of the firing.
Warning Shots Disputed
In Western Zuṭūr (Nabatieh), the Lebanese Army said Israeli occupation forces fired near its units during deployment in an “experimental area,” warning that the incident could hinder the implementation of deployment steps in the experimental areas.
The Israeli army countered that its forces fired warning shots into the air only after Lebanese soldiers accompanied by an engineering vehicle crossed about 150 meters into what it describes as a security area near the neighboring eastern Zuṭūr and passed the barriers.
The BBC reported that the Lebanese army said the Israeli forces fired “at close range” from its elements during their deployment in the western town of Zoutr, while the Israeli army said the Lebanese personnel withdrew and there were no reports of injuries.
An-Nahar described the Israeli explanation as “We fired warning shots,” and said the Israeli forces withdrew from the site without injuries after the warning fire.
What’s at Stake Next
The Lebanese army warned that the firing near deploying units could hinder the launch of the next deployment phases in the experimental zones known as the pilot zones, which it said are supported and involved by the United States as part of the framework agreement with Israel.
“will impede the launch of the next deployment phases”
The Israeli army acknowledged the incident in Zautar el-Gharbiyé by saying its troops deployed in the southern Lebanon buffer zone identified Lebanese Army units near a heavy vehicle that advanced about 150 meters and crossed the barriers, and it said the area entered by the Lebanese Army is not part of the pilot zone.
In parallel, the BBC said the experimental area plan would see Israeli forces withdraw from a small portion of the lands it controlled during its conflict with Hezbollah, alongside Hezbollah’s disarmament, while a Lebanese citizen told the BBC that “the deployment of the Lebanese army will not be sufficient to end Israeli operations.”
The BBC also quoted a Lebanese official saying “Aoun believes that Trump alone has the leverage to pressure Israel to withdraw its forces,” as the deployment began taking control of lands from which Israeli forces had withdrawn in southern Lebanon.
