Overview
- A U.S. military delegation met with the Lebanese army in Beirut on July 11 to work out the on-the-ground mechanisms for the first of two pilot zones where Israeli forces would withdraw and Lebanese troops would deploy.
- An anonymous U.S. official said the framework has entered an implementation stage and that the first pilot zone is expected to launch in a matter of days with U.S. Central Command coordinating the process.
- Lebanon says it will attend U.S.-mediated talks in Rome scheduled for July 15–16 only if Israel first withdraws from the two pilot zones and transfers control to the Lebanese army.
- Hezbollah has rejected the framework while Israel insists it will keep a 10 km security depth unless Hezbollah is disarmed, and Israeli strikes, demolitions and footage alleging tunnels under Beaufort Castle continue to complicate the transfer of control.
- The plan faces major humanitarian and oversight obstacles with reports of more than 1 million displaced people, claims that over 20,000 homes have been demolished in the south, and criticism of UNIFIL’s failure to detect Hezbollah tunnel networks, all of which could hinder wider implementation.