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Israel to withdraw from Lebanon’s pilot zones ahead of Aoun-Trump meeting

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sunday during the first part of his four-day visit to Washington.

Beatrice Farhat , Rosaleen Carroll

Jul 20, 2026

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BEIRUT/WASHINGTON — The US announced on Monday that “pilot zone operations” had begun as part of a Washington-backed security framework between Lebanon and Israel ahead of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s meeting with US President Donald Trump.

The US State Department said in a statement, “Today, pilot zone operations began in the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar Al-Gharbiya in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”

It went on, “This milestone is a direct outcome of last week’s discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. The........

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