Lebanon denounces that Israel opened fire during deployment operations in pilot areas

The Lebanese Army denounced this Tuesday that Israeli forces opened fire during deployment operations in the pilot areas, in the first operation in the south of the country to take control of towns included in the agreement between Lebanon and Israel facilitated by the United States.

“During the execution of the deployment operation by military units in the town of Zautar el Gharbiyé, near Nabatiyé, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire near these units,” the Lebanese forces said in a statement posted on social networks.

According to them, this attack will “hinder” the implementation of the deployment stages in the experimental areas, known as pilot zones. The military group has the support and participation of the United States, to ensure the general implementation of the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon.

“ONLY SHOTS IN THE AIR”

Later, the Israeli Army confirmed the incident, explaining that its forces deployed in the buffer zone in southern Lebanon “identified” Lebanese Army troops along with a heavy vehicle entering about 150 meters and crossing the “barriers”, in “violation of the agreements between the parties.”

Lebanese troops were to be deployed in the adjacent town of Zautar al Gharbiya after the withdrawal of the Israeli Army. “The area in which the Lebanese Army entered is not part of the pilot zone,” he defended in a statement posted on social networks.

“The Army forces operating at the site fired warning shots only into the air that did not endanger the Lebanese Army troops, with the aim of driving them away,” he said, adding that after these events, they moved away from the area, without the incident causing any injuries.

In this sense, he has urged the Lebanese Army to “act according to the understandings and agreed spaces.” “Any deviation without prior coordination could endanger its forces,” he concluded.

The deployment operations in pilot areas occur under the agreement signed in June between Lebanon and Israel for the cessation of hostilities and for the Israeli Army to withdraw from certain areas of southern Lebanon, although the final withdrawal will end up being conditional, however, on the effective disarmament of Hezbollah.

Initially, the parties agreed on two “pilot zones” whose security will be assumed, again “gradually”, by the Lebanese Army if Israel perceives that the necessary security guarantees exist.