The Lebanese army says Israeli forces are obstructing the planned transfer of security responsibilities in three southern villages—Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Froun and Srifa—by continuing shelling and clearance operations. Troops were deployed to the first pilot zone under a US-backed withdrawal plan, but unclear Israeli exit timetables and continued activity have delayed deployments and returns. Authorities also reported damage to infrastructure and farmland, while Hezbollah has rejected the deal and demanded an unconditional Israeli exit.
Lebanese Army Says Israel Is Blocking Handover Of 'Pilot Zone' Villages In South Lebanon
A Lebanese woman clears the debris of her destroyed house in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, on July 26, 2026 [Ahmad Mantash/AP]
The Lebanese army has accused Israeli forces of obstructing its efforts to assume security responsibility in southern Lebanon, saying ongoing Israeli operations are preventing a planned handover in three designated "pilot zone" villages.
In a statement on Sunday, the army said Israeli units continued to carry out shelling, bulldozing and clearance operations that have hindered Lebanese troop deployments and delayed the return of displaced residents.
Deployment to Pilot Zone — On Tuesday the Lebanese army deployed troops to the first of three pilot villages named in a United States-backed agreement that envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The three villages selected for the initial phase are Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Froun and Srifa.
"The continuation of these assaults hinders the completion of the army's deployment … and prevents the return of residents to their villages and towns," the Lebanese army said.
The army reported that parts of western Zawtar, Tibnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa remained under Israeli gunfire even as some civilians returned home. It also alleged bulldozing, shelling and "combing" operations with machine guns in a number of towns and villages across the south, including Nabatieh, Hdda, Kunin, Bint Jbeil, Nabi Ibel al-Saqi, Khiam, al-Mansouri, Bayt al-Siyad and Majdal Zoun in the Tyre area.
Officials said a water project in Markaba was destroyed and that olive groves and farmland on the outskirts of Aitaroun had been razed, adding to the humanitarian toll and hindering reconstruction and returns.
Reporting from Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr said displaced residents had returned to homes reduced to rubble and that Israeli forces had withdrawn to the village edge while conditioning any further movement on the dismantling of Hezbollah.
Wider Context
The Iran-backed group Hezbollah has rejected the US-brokered deal and demanded an unconditional Israeli withdrawal. Lebanese authorities have called on international partners to press for implementation of the agreement, while concerns persist over the lack of a clear Israeli exit timetable and the potential for renewed clashes.
Casualty figures reported in the latest round of violence are high: local tallies and media reports put the total dead at several thousand, including dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians. The situation remains volatile, and independent verification of some claims is limited amid ongoing operations and restricted access.
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