Lebanon is preparing to enter a new political and security phase following the signing of a U.S.-brokered framework agreement with Israel, with the Lebanese Army expected to begin deploying within hours to two pilot zones in southern Lebanon under U.S. supervision as part of the accord's initial implementation.

According to a Lebanese ministerial source cited by Asharq Al-Awsat, the first deployments will take place in the towns of Froun, in the Bint Jbeil district, and Western Zawtar, in the Nabatiyeh district. Both locations lie outside the "Yellow Line," the security belt Israel intends to maintain until Hezbollah is disarmed.

The source said the deployment will be overseen by Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), who is expected to arrive from Tel Aviv with a team of military observers tasked with facilitating the army's deployment in accordance with the framework agreement.

The move is expected to serve as a model for subsequent Lebanese Army deployments as Israeli forces gradually withdraw from additional areas under the terms of the U.S.-mediated negotiations. The source described the framework agreement as effectively serving as the agenda for future negotiations that are ultimately intended to lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

Strategic pilot zones

The source said Froun and Western Zawtar were selected because of their strategic importance and to test the Lebanese Army's ability to establish control and prevent the presence of unauthorized armed groups, an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

Although Froun is not directly occupied by Israeli forces, it remains surrounded by Israeli military positions, unlike Western Zawtar, which is under Israeli control.

Froun sits at the entrance to the Bint Jbeil district and borders Qaqaiyat al-Jisr in the Nabatiyeh district. One of its hills overlooks the towns of Taybeh and Qantara in the Marjayoun district, while Wadi al-Hujair also falls within its geographical boundaries.

Western Zawtar occupies a strategic position on the northern edge of the Litani River, overlooking its southern bank and providing access to Wadi al-Slouqi and the towns of Qantara and Deir Siriane.

Changes to the deployment plan

The source revealed that the original plan also included the towns of Eastern Zawtar, Arnoun and Yahmar al-Shaqif.

However, Israel's refusal to withdraw from those areas prompted a revision of the deployment plan. According to the source, Israel intends to retain them to reinforce its control over Beaufort Castle and may be linking any future withdrawal to Hezbollah's evacuation of Ali Taher hill, which Israeli forces continue to encircle from the outskirts of Kfartebnit.

Lebanon, the source said, is continuing to urge the United States to pressure Israel to withdraw from Beaufort Castle and nearby villages in order to shield Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa, Nabatiyeh al-Tahta and surrounding communities from recurring clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

Beirut banking on Washington

The source said Lebanese officials are seeking to capitalize on perceived differences between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to improve the terms of the framework agreement, which was described as a declaration of intent that would be implemented gradually.

However, the source acknowledged that despite any differences between the two leaders, both remain united in viewing Hezbollah's disarmament as a prerequisite for Israel's withdrawal from occupied territory in southern Lebanon.

The source described the framework agreement as the best available mechanism for increasing pressure on Netanyahu, adding that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally intervened to salvage the fifth round of negotiations after they were extended by an additional day.

Diplomatic approach

According to the source, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam remain committed to pursuing a diplomatic strategy backed by U.S. pressure to secure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The source argued that Hezbollah's military approach had resulted in catastrophic human and material losses, widespread destruction of villages and the displacement of thousands of residents.

Hezbollah's opposition

The source said Hezbollah has mounted a vigorous campaign against the framework agreement because it rejects direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.

According to the source, the group's lawmakers and Secretary-General Naim Qassem sought to derail the agreement instead of presenting their objections through established political channels.

The source accused Hezbollah of defending the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in Islamabad while accusing President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam of obstructing its implementation in Lebanon. The group was also accused of escalating its campaign through accusations of treason, threats, media attacks and demonstrations in downtown Beirut calling for support of the U.S.-Iran agreement, which Hezbollah views as the path to ending Israel's occupation after the 60-day negotiating period stipulated in that accord.

The source argued that Hezbollah's campaign reflects Iran's determination to keep the Lebanese file tied to its own regional security agenda rather than allowing it to be separated from the broader U.S.-Iran negotiations.

The source likened the current campaign to the events of March 2, describing it as political rather than military this time. It also accused Qassem of abandoning a previous commitment made to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri not to intervene militarily in support of Iran after later providing political cover for the launch of six rockets following Israel's killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The source questioned Qassem's repeated calls for dialogue while Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah was simultaneously warning of civil war in response to the framework agreement.

According to the source, Hezbollah's calls for dialogue are conditioned on its opponents accepting the group's demands, foremost among them rejecting direct negotiations with Israel. Instead of easing tensions, the source said, Hezbollah had deepened political divisions through threats of civil conflict and accusations of treason against its opponents.

Commitment to civil peace

The source said Hezbollah's rhetoric has been met with broad rejection across Lebanon, arguing that the overwhelming majority of Lebanese remain committed to preserving civil peace and have neither the desire nor the willingness to return to internal conflict after decades of civil war and regional proxy conflicts fought on Lebanese soil.

The source also noted that Iran has yet to comment publicly on the framework agreement, raising questions about whether Tehran has deliberately allowed Hezbollah to lead the campaign against it while seeking to pressure Beirut into reconsidering its decision to withdraw the diplomatic credentials of Iran's ambassador-designate, Mohammad Reza Sheibani.

Despite political disagreements over the framework agreement, the source said Lebanon continues to view Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as an important stabilizing figure capable of preventing political tensions from spilling into the streets.

The source recalled that Berri had previously prevented Hezbollah from using street protests to bring down Prime Minister Salam's government, emphasizing that avoiding sectarian strife remains a red line even as he maintains his own reservations about the framework agreement.