Lebanese and U.S. officials have begun preparing security arrangements for the establishment of two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, as part of efforts to implement an Israeli withdrawal and expand the deployment of the Lebanese Army under a framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

Lebanese diplomatic sources told Erem News that separate meetings between the U.S. mediator and the Lebanese delegation during the sixth round of talks held in Rome resulted in the preparation of precautionary measures aimed at securing the transition in the two designated areas.

The measures would require the Lebanese Army to transform the two areas into military zones once Israeli forces withdraw, until any Hezbollah presence is removed, homes in the villages are cleared of any elements linked to the group, and underground tunnels within the zones are destroyed.

The plan would also seek to prevent any Hezbollah members from infiltrating the areas during or after the Lebanese Army establishes control.

According to the sources, the Rome meetings also explored proposals to divide the Israeli withdrawal and the Lebanese Army’s deployment in the remaining areas into two stages, according to a rapid timetable.

Washington has indicated that its ability to push Israel toward further withdrawals will depend significantly on the success of the “two pilot zones” model, the sources said.

A Lebanese diplomat familiar with the Rome discussions told Erem News that Washington and Beirut are working to prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to challenge the Lebanese Army’s control after the Israeli withdrawal.

The sides are also seeking to prevent any attacks against Lebanese forces as they establish authority inside the two zones, the diplomat said.

One of the main issues being addressed by the Lebanese Army and the U.S. military side is bilateral coordination over the deployment process, along with security measures to protect U.S. military personnel tasked with verifying the Israeli withdrawal and the Lebanese Army’s entry into the areas.

Once the American team confirms that the Lebanese state has established full authority over the pilot zones, discussions will move toward creating additional model areas, according to the sources.

However, this next stage would depend on the Lebanese Army achieving complete control over the two initial zones and removing any remaining threats, including military infrastructure, weapons storage sites or other assets that could be used by Hezbollah.

The Two Pilot Zones

Strategic expert Brigadier General Said al-Qozah identified the two pilot zones as Eastern and Western Zawtar, located north of the Litani River, where Israeli forces are currently present, and the area of Ghandourieh and Froun south of the Litani River, which is controlled by Israeli firepower from surrounding positions.

Al-Qozah said a positive atmosphere emerged after the Israeli delegation in Rome announced, under U.S. pressure, its readiness to withdraw from a third area where Israeli forces remain deployed.

He said the withdrawal process would be placed under complete American supervision, with Israeli forces leaving first and the Lebanese Army entering afterward.

The mission of the Lebanese Army, he said, would be to establish full state authority in the areas by preventing any armed presence, military infrastructure or activity not linked to the Lebanese state.

“The Lebanese Army will impose the authority of the state in every sense of the word,” al-Qazzah said, adding that the two areas would serve as models for future deployments.

He stressed that the U.S. role would be limited to verifying that the process is carried out properly, while Israel would not have the right to conduct independent field inspections after the withdrawal.

The American team would be responsible for confirming that the pilot zones have been cleared of any unauthorized armed presence, whether linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, or Palestinian groups aligned with the same axis, including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, he said.

Questions Over Hidden Hezbollah Presence

Military expert Brigadier General George Nader said the administration of the two pilot zones would fall under the Lebanese Army once Israeli forces withdraw.

He said Israeli troops currently control the areas through firepower from positions inside and around them, but that responsibility would transfer to Lebanese forces after the withdrawal.

Nader warned, however, that some Hezbollah members could remain hidden or seek shelter inside homes or secret locations.

Such individuals, he said, would be expected to leave once the Lebanese Army takes control, particularly because the army is the institution constitutionally responsible for maintaining security and because any remaining armed presence could provide Israel with justification for further action.

The Lebanese Army would be responsible not only for securing the two zones but also for facilitating the return of residents, Nader said.

He noted that the Lebanese delegation in Rome has insisted that areas placed under Lebanese military control must not be subjected to Israeli attacks afterward.

Under the framework agreement, the U.S. Central Command will oversee and monitor the implementation of the Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese deployment, Nader said.

He added that the agreement does not assign any role to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), particularly as the peacekeeping force is expected to leave Lebanon after three months.

Nader warned that a withdrawal process based on one village at a time could take years.

For the agreement to succeed, he said, the two pilot zones must first prove successful, after which a number of additional locations should be selected where the Lebanese Army can deploy in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

The success of the pilot zones is therefore expected to become a key test of whether the broader framework agreement can lead to a wider Israeli withdrawal and the expansion of state control across southern Lebanon.