U.S. Officials Say Israeli Military Will Withdraw from a "Pilot Area" in Southern Lebanon

On July 9, Xinhua News Agency reported from Jerusalem (reporters Wang Zhuolun and Pang Xinyi) that the Israeli military will withdraw from one of the two "pilot areas" in southern Lebanon within the next few days to create conditions for advancing the next phase of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

The report stated that, according to a framework agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, D.C., the Israeli side agreed to withdraw its troops from two small areas in southern Lebanon that have cleared Hezbollah military facilities, to be handed over to the Lebanese Armed Forces.

The report cited an Arab official as saying that the Lebanese side has informed the United States that it will not participate in the new round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel scheduled to be held next week in Rome, Italy, until the Israeli side completes the agreed withdrawal. Currently, the timetable for the withdrawal from the second "pilot area" has not been announced.

On June 26, Israel, the United States, and Lebanon concluded a four-day new round of ceasefire withdrawal negotiations in Washington and announced the establishment of a trilateral framework agreement. The trilateral framework agreement includes a pilot plan, whereby the Israeli military will withdraw from two areas located on either side of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. After the Israeli military's withdrawal, the Lebanese army will be deployed to the aforementioned two areas with the accompaniment of U.S. forces.