Lebanese Government Details Framework of "Pilot Zones" for Security Transition and Ceasefire in the South

Lebanese Government Details Framework of "Pilot Zones" for Security Transition and Ceasefire in the South

The Baabda Presidential Palace has detailed the operational and geographical criteria for the so-called "Pilot Security Zones," the operational backbone of the new U.S.-mediated truce proposal under the Washington Agreement. The project adopts a strategy of gradual de-escalation, creating pockets of military exclusion controlled exclusively by the state's regular forces.

Instead of an immediate, large-scale disarmament attempt, the model will function as a practical test of sovereignty. If stability is maintained within the initial perimeters, the plan projects a phased replication of the framework throughout southern Lebanon.

The Strategic Quadrangle

The initial phase of the project is concentrated in an area of high tactical and topographical value near and north of the Litani River, encompassing four key points:

Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Zawtar al-Gharbiya: Villages that serve as natural gateways and axes of movement in the region.

Yahmar: A strategic locality for monitoring territorial transit.

Beaufort Castle (Qala'at ash-Shqif): A historic fortress situated atop a rocky cliff. Due to its high altitude, the castle area offers visual and intelligence dominance over nearly the entire Litani Valley and the border zone.

Operational Dynamics on the Ground

The operational mechanism established by the peace plan relies on three strict pillars of power transition:

1. Monopoly of Regular Force: The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will assume absolute and exclusive territorial control over the designated zones. They will be the sole forces authorized to conduct patrols, set up checkpoints, and erect fortifications.

2. Evacuation of Non-State Actors: Hezbollah must withdraw all of its military infrastructure, weapons, and visible personnel from within the perimeter of these pilot villages, allowing the State to fill the vacuum of power.

3. Guarantee of Non-Aggression: In exchange for the exclusive presence of the regular army, Israel will halt all ground incursions and airstrikes targeted at these specific coordinates, validating the capacity of the Lebanese forces to prevent attacks against Israeli territory.

Monitoring and Next Steps

The implementation of the model will be supported by technical and logistical monitoring from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which will act in coordination with the military. However, intelligence supervision and the validation of target compliance will be reported directly to the international oversight committee led by the United States and France.

The Presidential Palace projects an initial testing period of 30 to 60 days for these first localities. The success of this pilot phase will determine the expansion of the model toward the Blue Line, consolidating the legitimate authority of the Lebanese State and lasting security in the border region.