Lebanese army enters southern town after Israeli withdrawal, in first test of US-brokered deal

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

A senior Lebanese military official told Reuters that army units were sweeping the town for unexploded ordnance, but that much work remained before it could be declared safe for residents. 

“Army engineering teams have entered Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, and we are waiting for further instructions,” the town’s mayor, Abed Ezzeddin, said. “We will inform residents once the area is confirmed to be safe and under the army’s control.” 

Ezzeddin described the destruction as extremely extensive, saying more than half the town had been destroyed and that the remaining homes had suffered severe damage, leaving the village uninhabitable. 

He questioned whether residents could return safely while Israeli forces remained in neighbouring Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh, which he said was closely connected to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and only a five-minute walk away. 

“How can I be sure that I can enter Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh safely?” Ezzeddin said. “How can I think of settling there when the Israelis are right next to me in Zawtar al-Sharqiyeh?” 

The Israeli military confirmed on Monday that it was redeploying its forces as part of the pilot programme.

“The pilot serves as a test of the Lebanese Armed Forces’ sovereignty in the three pilot villages, as the sole official authority authorised to bear arms in the area,” an Israeli military official said.

Israeli officials have voiced scepticism about Lebanon’s ability to disarm Hezbollah but Israel sees the deal reached last month as a vital step towards building peace with Lebanon in the long run. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was due later on Tuesday to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington.