Lebanese army begins deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh following Israeli withdrawal

Lebanese army troops began deployment in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh region on Tuesday. This movement follows an Israeli military withdrawal from the area, marking the initial phase of a U.S.-brokered pilot program. The plan involves the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the confiscation of Hezbollah weapons by the Lebanese army. This initiative aims to restore Lebanese state control over a 10-kilometer-deep strip of land. Regional infrastructure, including hospitals, power stations, and water pumps, has suffered extensive damage, with tens of thousands of residents displaced. Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel intensified in early March, shortly after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. The Lebanese military has advised citizens to remain clear of the area until security is fully stabilized.