Lebanon, Israel move toward implementing withdrawal agreement: U.S. officials

Lead

Lebanese and Israeli officials have taken steps toward implementing a US-brokered agreement that would see Israeli forces withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon, according to US officials and military statements. The talks, held in Rome, produced agreement on the structure and guidelines for establishing so-called pilot zones, where the Israeli military would hand over control to the Lebanese army.

Coverage comparison

Al Jazeera reported that the two-day diplomatic talks in Rome ended with a US official describing the meetings as "productive and positive." The outlet quoted the official as saying: "We agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days." The Hindu — World also covered the talks, citing a US State Department statement that called the discussions "productive" and noted the agreement on the pilot zone process. Neither Israel nor Lebanon issued an immediate statement on the outcome, according to both outlets.

The Hindu — World added context that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, ahead of the talks, had instructed his delegation "to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions." The outlet also reported that implementation had stalled before the Rome meetings.

TASS — English reported that the Israeli military had begun coordinating actions with the Lebanese Armed Forces in the pilot zones, citing an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement. According to TASS, the IDF said: "In accordance with the directives from the [Israeli] political echelon, the 'Safe Zone' pilot program began today (Monday) in southern Lebanon, in cooperation with the U.S. military (CENTCOM) and the Lebanese Armed Forces." The IDF statement said teams from the three militaries were conducting "coordination and planning for the continued implementation of the agreement." TASS also reported that the US State Department said three pilot zones had come into effect in Lebanon.

In a separate report, TASS — English cited an unnamed US administration official, as relayed by CNN, saying Israeli authorities were preparing to return control of some occupied Lebanese territories "in a matter of days." The official said CENTCOM was coordinating with both countries, and that the US would begin outreach to international partners to help the Lebanese government restore sovereignty.

Key claims

• The framework agreement, signed June 26 after five rounds of US-brokered talks in Washington, envisages the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah, as reported by Al Jazeera, The Hindu — World, and TASS — English.
• The Lebanese Armed Forces will gradually restore "effective sovereign control over the entire territory of the country," and non-state armed groups will be disarmed and their military infrastructure dismantled, according to a TASS — English report.
• The US military is involved in coordination and planning for the implementation of the agreement, as stated by the IDF and reported by TASS — English.
• The IDF warned that it would "respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement," according to TASS — English.
• Hezbollah is opposed to the agreement and has said it will not abide by it, according to Al Jazeera and The Hindu — World.
• There is controversy in Lebanon over the selected pilot zones, because Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected areas to begin with, raising questions about how the withdrawal could take place, as reported by The Hindu — World.
• Iran has influence on the conflict in Lebanon, as noted by Al Jazeera, which described Hezbollah as Iran-backed.

Perspectives

US officials: The US State Department described the talks as productive, with an official calling the meetings "productive and positive." A US administration official said the first pilot zone would be returned to Lebanese control "in a matter of days" and that "further pilot zones are being identified and planned."

Israel Defense Forces: The IDF said it had begun coordinating with the Lebanese Armed Forces and the US military, and warned it would respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun: Ahead of the Rome talks, Aoun instructed the Lebanese delegation to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions.

Hezbollah: The group is opposed to the agreement and has said it will not abide by it, according to Al Jazeera and The Hindu — World.