(July 21, 2026 \/ JNS)\n <\/p>\n
The Israel Defense Forces on Monday night confirmed the launch of a \u201cSafe Zone\u201d pilot program in Southern Lebanon that will see Israeli troops redeploy from designated areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn accordance with the directives from the political echelon, the \u2018Safe Zone\u2019 pilot program began today (Monday) in southern Lebanon, in cooperation with the U.S. military (CENTCOM) and the Lebanese Armed Forces,\u201d the IDF stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs part of the pilot, teams from the IDF, the U.S. military, and the Lebanese Armed Forces are conducting coordination and planning for the continued implementation of the agreement,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe IDF will respond forcefully to any violation of the agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the Lebanese military launched its first operations<\/a> to take over control of villages near the Israeli security zone in Lebanon.<\/p>\n \u201cPilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon,\u201d State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated.<\/p>\n