Nazir Reda – Middle East
The proposal to define the experimental area in southern Lebanon settled on six villages, the outskirts of one of which are subject to Israeli occupation, while the other five are subject to fire control, and are divided into two regions. One of them is located north of the Litani, which is Zawtar Sharqiya, while the other is located south of the Litani.
The experimental area proposed in the sixth round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which was held, Tuesday and Wednesday, in the Italian capital, Rome, includes the towns of Zawtar al-Gharbiyya, Fron, Gandouria, Qalawayh, Burj Qalawayh, and Srifa, noting that the latter is about five kilometers from the nearest point where Israeli forces are present on the ground in Wadi al-Hujair, and Israeli forces have not penetrated it at all since they retreated to the border strip in southern Lebanon in 1985, before the complete withdrawal in 2017. 2000.
The experimental zone is still within the framework of a proposed zone, according to what Lebanese sources keeping up with communications told Asharq Al-Awsat, noting that the Lebanese army “has not yet seen the outcomes of the negotiating round, given that none of its representatives are at the negotiating table.”
It seemed that the negotiations divided the regions into two regions, one of which was located on its outskirts, and the other was located in Hezbollah. Thus, the map of the proposed experimental region shows the imposition of “withdrawal in exchange for withdrawal,” with the Lebanese army entering the two regions simultaneously after they were free of the Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters.
The Litani River passes through the outskirts of Zawtar, Fron, and Srifa, and the Israeli army believes that these deep valleys, connected to each other, contain missile sites for Hezbollah, as evidenced by the fact that it intensified its targeting of them during the recent war. Ground forces also carried out infiltration operations into the outskirts of Fron in the region last month. As for the towns of Ghandouriya, Qalawayh, and Burj Qalawayh, they enjoy a strategic geographical location, as their heights overlook the villages occupied by the Israeli army located east of Wadi al-Hujair, and are more than ten kilometers away from the Lebanese border with Israel.
Hezbollah did not issue any new position commenting on the outcomes of the agreement, noting that its Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, had confirmed last month that “the ceiling of sovereignty can be achieved by remaining within the framework of the results of the November 27, 2024 agreement on the base south of the Litani River exclusively,” calling for an Israeli withdrawal “without restrictions or conditions,” and for “a comprehensive strategic study of national security in the post-Israeli withdrawal phase.”
Prior to the date of technical talks between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, sponsored and facilitated by the Americans, which are supposed to be held on Friday, to discuss the implementation mechanisms of the agreement, such as the withdrawal of the Israeli army and the deployment of the Lebanese army, the Lebanese army began field procedures in one of the villages included within the experimental area. Local media reported that the army set up a large checkpoint at the Srifa town junction on the side of Deir Keyfa village, and tightened its inspection of cars and motorcycles crossing into the town.
On the other hand, the Israeli army carried out bombing operations in the towns of Beit Yahoun, Bint Jbeil, Al-Khiam and Kunine, and bulldozed the roads leading from Bint Jbeil to the border town of Maroun Al-Ras. Israeli soldiers also opened fire on a number of residents who tried to inspect the orchards adjacent to the towns of Majdal Zoun and Al-Mansouri. An Israeli drone dropped a sound bomb in Tal Dibin, and another drone dropped a sound bomb in Al-Mansouri. Meanwhile, Israeli forces carried out a sweep with machine guns towards the town of Zawtar. A mechanized force also penetrated towards the outskirts of Hadatha town, towards the town of Haris.
