Politics

One town at a time: Israel, Lebanon boost coordination

Under US tutelage, Tel Aviv and Beirut have agreed to work together to disarm Hezbollah and gradually replace Israel's army with Lebanon's in the south

Reuters

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio oversees the signing of the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon in Washington on 26 June 2026.

One town at a time: Israel, Lebanon boost coordination

Thuraya Shahin

last update on 02 Jul 2026

After a ‘framework agreement’ was signed between Lebanon and Israel in Washington on 26 June, attention has shifted to its implementation. Sponsored by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it aims to end hostilities between the two Middle East neighbours, secure the Israeli army’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, extend the authority of the Lebanese army across all Lebanese territory, and enable Lebanese soldiers to bring all non-state weapons under national control.

In violation of a memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran, which stipulates that Israel halt all attacks on Lebanon and respect its sovereignty, Israel is still launching airstrikes in the south and insists that it will not withdraw until Hezbollah is disarmed. The group has been attacking Israel’s occupying forces, causing several fatalities in recent days. Now, with this new agreement, which defies key aspects of the US-Iran MOU, observers wonder whether Israel will even honour these commitments, beginning with two ‘pilot’ areas—Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh and Froun—being handed over to the Lebanese army as a first step.

The Washington Post quoted a US official as saying that “the United States will play a direct role in monitoring the movements of the Lebanese and Israeli armies, including through the use of US forces on the ground in Lebanon and Israel”. Sources close to the Lebanese presidency say the visit to Beirut of Admiral Brad Cooper from US Central Command (CENTCOM) to Beirut this week was “to coordinate positions with Lebanon regarding the security and military preparations, as well as between the Lebanese and Israeli armies, following the completion of the two model areas”.

Cooper was accompanied by a US military team that would conduct field reconnaissance in the south and oversee military follow-up. Before Beirut, he flew to Israel to coordinate preparations. In practice, Washington is managing events on the ground, whether security, military, or logistical. “The first step is to consolidate the ceasefire,” said the source. “Work will then proceed on preparing the two pilot areas ahead of the Lebanese army’s deployment there... The two armies will not overlap on the ground.”

Pilot zones

The idea is that the Israelis slowly withdraw from the areas they currently occupy, to be replaced town by town by the Lebanese army. Wherever Hezbollah is active, “the means by which the army can deploy and place weapons under its sole authority will be examined,” they said. Hezbollah is not a signatory to the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, nor does it condone it. Despite its stance, the source said that “Qatar has opened a channel of communication with Iran... to facilitate the Lebanese army’s mission,” adding: “It could become the subject of US-Iranian contacts.”

A diplomat told Al Majalla that the towns of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh in the Nabatieh district and Froun in the Bint Jbeil district were chosen as two “models” for testing the Lebanese-Israeli agreement, with the Lebanese army to determine the areas’ boundaries before the US military delegation and the relevant Israeli parties.

KAWNAT HAJU / AFP — Lebanese army soldiers patrol a street at the entrance of the southern Lebanese village of Froun on 30 June 2026.

“Froun lies outside the Yellow Line, yet along its boundary, and is considered to be within Israel’s field of fire,” they said. “There are no residents or Israeli soldiers on the ground. However, it is still an unsafe area. Since Israel had been refusing a full withdrawal, this area was chosen because of its proximity to the dividing boundary of the Yellow Line.” The arrangements require that Froun and Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh be cleared of weapons and that the Lebanese army deploy there.

“The details will be agreed with the Americans on the ground,” said the source. “The president (Joseph Aoun) is counting on the successive and swift expansion of the pilot areas, should they prove successful. This will depend on the Lebanese army’s assessments and follow-up. Lebanon has realised Israel will not withdraw from all Lebanese territory at once, and that gradual, successive withdrawals will be the means by which the objective of full withdrawal is ultimately achieved.”

Observers wonder if Israel will honour its commitments under the new agreement between Lebanon and Israel, given its defiance of the US-Iran MOU.

They acknowledged that if Hezbollah continues with its military action, the agreement "will face grave challenges that could lead to failure," adding: "Israel will not stand idly by in the face of any military action directed at the occupied areas… Anyone who imagines that Israel will withdraw within two months is mistaken. There is no solution except through the implementation of the framework agreement, because no party in Lebanon can force Israel out. Any attempt by Iran to detonate the situation would derail the Washington track."

Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh is strategically important as it overlooks the northern course of the Litani River and Wadi al-Hujeir. It forms a logistical supply line and is part of a 'buffer zone' in the ceasefire arrangements. It lies on the forward edge north of the Litani, commands the area to its south, and is linked to Wadi al-Salouqi. War-battered Froun is also strategically located in a central position, making it a point of connection. Its residents say it lies outside the Yellow Line and reject the Israeli occupation.

AFP — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during his meeting with Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, on 29 June 2026.

US backing

US President Donald Trump is believed to have spoken to Aoun in recent days to reaffirm his support for Lebanon's sovereignty and his desire to see Lebanese state authority extended across all Lebanese territory. Aoun, who may visit the United States this month, likewise reaffirmed Beirut's commitment to the framework agreement. He called on Washington to ensure Israel's withdrawal and non-violation of the framework agreement, which contains a security annex that remains confidential.

A US official said CENTCOM was monitoring activity in Lebanon, including implementation of the ceasefire, and intervening to prevent any breakout in fighting. This element was discussed between American and Iranian negotiators on 18 June, after Iran made a ceasefire in Lebanon conditional on its own ceasefire with the US. Qatari, Lebanese, Iranian and American representatives are believed to have discussed the situation in Switzerland in recent weeks.

Any multinational taskforce that emerges will initially monitor and consolidate the ceasefire, but this may later expand to include the deployment of the Lebanese army and the withdrawal of the Israelis from Lebanon's internationally recognised borders. "The Israeli withdrawal requires direct engagement with Israel," said the source. "Lebanon is dealing realistically with the desire to solve its problem. It can benefit from any US-Iran-Qatar agreement, so it will not resist this direction." France has also said it is willing to help if it can.

Hezbollah is not a signatory to the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, nor does it condone it.

Said al-Bustani, a researcher in Washington, told Al Majalla that "the on-the-ground coordination mechanism (involving the US) is designed to prevent the Lebanese front from exploding, so that the US-Iranian talks do not collapse," adding: "Lebanon is the mine that could detonate those negotiations."

In the event of further conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the idea is that Washington and Tehran will put pressure on their respective allies to de-escalate. Al-Bustani said the aim is "to secure an environment of calm for 60 days, until the negotiations between Washington and Tehran conclude, and to coordinate with the committees formed by the Switzerland negotiations, so that any escalation in Lebanon does not reverberate across the region". Whether it succeeds remains to be seen.

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