Israel Approves Continued Operations in Southern Lebanon Despite New Deal

Israel’s military chief has approved keeping troops active in southern Lebanon, just two days after signing a framework agreement with Beirut to end hostilities. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), approved “plans for continued operations” during a visit to the Northern Command on Sunday, according to a military statement. He described the trilateral deal between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, signed on Friday, as “historic and important.” “We will honor the agreement and work to ensure its success,” Zamir said. “The test now is the actions of both sides, and the coming period will shape the future.” The agreement calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. A key point, detailed in a public U.S. State Department document, mentions a “Security Annex” that would see the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) gradually take control of two “pilot zones.” These zones, both south of the city of Nabatieh, are meant to lead to a phased IDF pullback. However, violence continues. Early Sunday, a Hezbollah fighter killed a 21-year-old Israeli soldier in the Lebanese village of Deir Siryan. Another soldier was lightly wounded and evacuated to a hospital. On Saturday, Israel bombed Nabatieh, a major city close to Israeli troop positions. The IDF confirmed on Sunday morning that the strike killed an unspecified number of Hezbollah fighters. One of the two pilot zones is near Deir Siryan, an area Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday the Israeli army “no longer needs to control.” The other zone exceeds the perimeter Israel had previously confirmed it held.