Residents of southern Lebanon have begun returning to their towns under a U.S.-brokered “pilot zones” agreement between Lebanon and Israel, marking the first phase of a new security arrangement along the border.
The village of Zawtar al-Gharbieh is the first community to be handed over to the Lebanese Army following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
Footage from the village showed Lebanese troops and military vehicles moving into Zawtar al-Gharbieh as residents began returning to assess the condition of their homes and neighborhoods after months of fighting.
Many returning families found extensive destruction, with damaged homes, shattered infrastructure, and roads still being inspected by military engineers and emergency teams.
The Lebanese Army says its deployment is aimed at establishing state control, securing the area, and facilitating the safe return of civilians under the terms of the pilot zones agreement.
The arrangement was brokered with U.S. involvement as part of wider efforts to reduce tensions and stabilize southern Lebanon following repeated clashes along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Officials say additional areas could be transferred to Lebanese army control if the first phase is implemented successfully and security conditions remain stable.
For many residents, the return is both emotional and uncertain, as families begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives while authorities continue clearing unexploded ordnance and assessing the full scale of the damage across the border region.
