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‘Just want to go back’: Lebanese await return as army enters ‘pilot zone’

The Lebanese army has entered the 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a town in southern Lebanon, as part of a US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement involves a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the army to prevent Hezboll…

By Zeina Khodr·Jul 22·aljazeera.com·4 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

‘Just want to go back’: Lebanese await return as army enters ‘pilot zone’
‘Just want to go back’: Lebanese await return as army enters ‘pilot zone’Image: aljazeera.com

The Lebanese army has entered the 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a town in southern Lebanon, as part of a US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement involves a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the army to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence. Families are waiting to return home, but the army is not allowing returns until…

Why it matters

The agreement between Lebanon and Israel has received a mixed response from the deeply divided Lebanese society, and the role of the Lebanese army in preventing Hezbollah's return to villages in southern Lebanon is crucial.

Imagine you're a family living in a town in southern Lebanon. You've been forced to leave your home because of a war between Israel and a group called Hezbollah. Now, the Lebanese army is coming to the town to help keep the peace. But some people are worried that the army might not be able to stop Hezbollah from coming back. It's a complicated situation, and the army's role is crucial in keeping everyone safe.

Analysis

A Fragile Peace: The Lebanese Army's Role in Southern Lebanon

The Lebanese army's entry into the 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbiya marks a significant step in the implementation of the US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement, signed on June 26, involves a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the army to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence in southern Lebanon. However, the situation remains fragile, and the Lebanese army's role in maintaining peace is crucial.

The Lebanese state has been absent in southern Lebanon for decades, and restoring trust will be hard. The army's deployment is seen as a necessary step to prevent Hezbollah's return, but it also raises concerns about the army's ability to confront the group. The army commander, General Rodolphe Haykal, did not accompany Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during his visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, fueling speculation about the army's willingness to confront Hezbollah.

The agreement has received a mixed response from the deeply divided Lebanese society. President Joseph Aoun has described it as not ideal but the best option available given the realities on the ground and the balance of power. Hezbollah and its supporters, however, say Lebanon should have aligned with Iran when negotiating an end to Israel's occupation. They argue that the agreement is a form of surrender and that the Lebanese government's decisions to declare Hezbollah's military wing illegal and demand its disarmament are a betrayal of the group's struggle.

The situation in southern Lebanon is complex, and the Lebanese army's role is critical in maintaining peace. The army's deployment is a necessary step to prevent Hezbollah's return, but it also raises concerns about the army's ability to confront the group. The agreement between Lebanon and Israel is a fragile peace, and its success depends on the Lebanese army's ability to maintain order and prevent Hezbollah's return.

The Israeli Withdrawal: A Gradual Process

The Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is a gradual process, and it is expected to take several months. The withdrawal is part of the US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which involves the deployment of the Lebanese army to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence in southern Lebanon. The agreement has received a mixed response from the deeply divided Lebanese society, and the role of the Lebanese army in preventing Hezbollah's return is crucial.

The Israeli withdrawal is a significant step in the implementation of the agreement, but it also raises concerns about the army's ability to confront Hezbollah. The army's deployment is seen as a necessary step to prevent Hezbollah's return, but it also raises concerns about the army's willingness to confront the group. The army commander, General Rodolphe Haykal, did not accompany Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during his visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, fueling speculation about the army's willingness to confront Hezbollah.

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

The road ahead for Lebanon is challenging, and the country faces several obstacles in implementing the agreement. The Lebanese army's role in maintaining peace is critical, and the army's ability to confront Hezbollah is crucial. The agreement between Lebanon and Israel is a fragile peace, and its success depends on the Lebanese army's ability to maintain order and prevent Hezbollah's return.

The situation in southern Lebanon is complex, and the Lebanese army's role is critical in maintaining peace. The army's deployment is a necessary step to prevent Hezbollah's return, but it also raises concerns about the army's ability to confront the group. The agreement between Lebanon and Israel is a fragile peace, and its success depends on the Lebanese army's ability to maintain order and prevent Hezbollah's return.

Key points

  • The Lebanese army has entered the 'pilot zone' in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a town in southern Lebanon, as part of a US-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
  • The agreement involves a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of the army to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing a presence in southern Lebanon.
  • Families are waiting to return home, but the army is not allowing returns until engineering units clear the area of unexploded ordnance.
  • The Lebanese army's role in maintaining peace is critical, and the army's ability to confront Hezbollah is crucial.
  • The agreement between Lebanon and Israel is a fragile peace, and its success depends on the Lebanese army's ability to maintain order and prevent Hezbollah's return.
The Upside

The Lebanese army's deployment to southern Lebanon could lead to a more stable and secure region. If the army is able to prevent Hezbollah's return, it could pave the way for a more peaceful future for the people of Lebanon.

The Downside

The situation in southern Lebanon is fragile, and the Lebanese army's ability to maintain peace is crucial. If the army is unable to prevent Hezbollah's return, it could lead to a renewed conflict and further instability in the region.

Originally reported at

aljazeera.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagslebanonisraelhezbollahus-brokered agreementsouthern lebanonpeace agreementlebanese armyhezbollah return

Author

Zeina Khodr

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 22, 2026

Source

aljazeera.com

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Topics

lebanonisraelhezbollahus-brokered agreementsouthern lebanonpeace agreementlebanese armyhezbollah return

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