Israel’s ‘pilot zones’: Withdrawal on paper, continued occupation of south Lebanon

Israel’s ‘pilot zones’: Withdrawal on paper, continued occupation of south Lebanon Submitted by Giovanna Vial on Wed, 08/12/2026 - 15:47 MEE visited two of the villages touted as models for Israel's withdrawal. Residents say Israeli troops were never there to begin with A Lebanese soldier stands guard at the entrance to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, one of three southern Lebanese villages designated as a “pilot zone” under an Israel-Lebanon framework agreement (Giovanna Vial/MEE) Off At the entrance to Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh