U.S. Ambassador Visits Lebanon Pilot Zones Amid Border Deal

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa visited the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on Tuesday to support a U.S.-backed framework agreement with Israel. The village serves as one of several pilot zones recently transferred to the control of the Lebanese army. Under the terms of the deal, Israeli forces withdraw from these areas in parallel with the deployment of the Lebanese army, provided that Hezbollah disarms.

During the visit, Issa toured a local church and inspected a destroyed bridge in nearby Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr. Israeli drones and military vehicles were reported in the vicinity during the tour. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had previously visited Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh on the preceding Saturday to inspect army units.

While violence has declined since a June agreement and a broader U.S.-Iran deal, Hezbollah continues to reject the negotiations and refuses to disarm. Implementation talks between Israel and Lebanon have been postponed from September to October, although their respective ambassadors to Washington are scheduled to meet this week.