Lebanese army deploys troops in pilot zone after Israeli withdrawal

A United States‑mediated deal announced on Monday will see Israeli forces withdraw from a limited sector of southern Lebanon that they occupied during the recent cross‑border hostilities with Hezbollah. The agreement, reached after intensive diplomatic talks in Washington, calls for the Israeli army to pull back to positions held before the escalation that began in early October, while allowing Lebanese authorities to re‑establish security control in the affected area.

The withdrawal is intended to reduce tensions along the Israel‑Lebanon frontier and to create conditions for a broader de‑escalation, according to statements from U.S. officials and representatives of both sides. The United Nations has welcomed the move, urging both parties to honor the terms and to avoid actions that could reignite fighting. The arrangement marks the latest effort to stabilize a volatile border that has seen sporadic exchanges of fire since the conflict erupted, and it underscores the continued involvement of the United States in seeking a diplomatic resolution.