Preparations appear to be advancing for a new phase of Israeli withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, with U.S. involvement in coordinating a ceasefire monitoring mechanism and efforts underway to transfer security responsibilities to the Lebanese Army, according to Israeli media reports.

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Sunday that “reports indicate progress in preparations for the next phase of the Israeli army’s withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon,” adding that Washington is directly involved in coordinating the process and establishing a joint mechanism to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire and the transfer of security responsibilities to Lebanese forces.

In parallel, U.S. officials have reportedly begun activating elements of the broader Lebanon-Israel framework agreement. According to the same reports, Washington has appointed former head of the ceasefire “mechanism” committee, General Joseph Clearfield, to lead a new military and security committee tasked with supervising implementation of the agreement.

Clearfield is expected to chair the new body and represent the United States within it.

According to the reports, Clearfield has been holding discreet contacts and meetings across the Beirut–Tel Aviv–Washington track, as part of preparations to form a Lebanese–American–Israeli tripartite coordination team and to accelerate implementation of the framework, particularly in designated “pilot” areas in southern Lebanon.

However, his mission is described as complex and potentially lengthy, particularly amid continued tensions on the ground. The reports suggest that Hezbollah’s hardline position is seen as reinforcing Israeli caution and contributing to delays in moving toward full implementation of the planned arrangements.

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlet i24 News reported intelligence assessments indicating that Israel believes there are approximately 1,200 Hezbollah fighters deployed south of the Litani River, and an additional 1,300 between the Litani and Zahrani rivers. The figures, the channel said, were derived from ongoing Israeli army search-and-clearance operations in the area.

On the ground, Israeli forces continue to carry out what local sources describe as a systematic campaign of destruction in southern Lebanese border villages.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli troops detonated and demolished homes in several towns, most recently in Talousa in the Marjayoun district overnight.

Earlier on Sunday, NNA also reported Israeli artillery shelling targeting the southern village of Deir Seryan.

At the same time, an Israeli drone was reported to be flying over Beirut’s southern suburbs, maintaining near-continuous aerial surveillance over the area.