Beirut Accuses Israel of Building Barrier in Lebanese Army-Held Village
Lebanese state media and the mayor of a southern village accused Israeli troops on Saturday of advancing into an area under Lebanese army control and constructing an earthen barrier overnight, in what a military source described as a violation of a June framework agreement.
The incident took place in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, one of two designated pilot zones where the Lebanese army was to take over security responsibilities as part of a U.S.-sponsored arrangement with Israel. The National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli occupation force entered the village shortly after midnight and erected a new barrier near the town square.
An AFP correspondent confirmed the presence of the barrier at the eastern entrance of the village, completely blocking the road. Local authorities said it remained unclear whether any Israeli troops were still in the area.
Mayor Abed Ezzeddine told AFP that residents were surprised to see the barrier in the morning, located roughly 100 metres from the town square. Israeli troops had previously been present on the outskirts of the village but withdrew when the Lebanese army deployed on July 21. Around 50 families have since returned to their homes.
A Lebanese military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident and said it constituted a breach of the framework agreement. The agreement, signed in June, requires Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah while Israel is expected to gradually withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military stated it was "not aware of such an event in this area."
The development comes amid ongoing tensions along the border. Israel invaded southern Lebanon in March after Hezbollah entered the West Asia war in support of its patron Iran. The invasion and a widespread bombing campaign have killed more than 4,300 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry, and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Despite a ceasefire in place since June, Israel has continued to carry out intermittent strikes on southern Lebanon. The NNA also reported artillery shelling in the region on Saturday.
Lebanon and Israel concluded their seventh round of direct negotiations in Rome on Thursday. A Lebanese source said Israeli officials refused to discuss withdrawing from additional areas until they were satisfied that Beirut's military had full control over the pilot zones.
Hezbollah, which rejects the agreement, has refused to surrender its weapons, complicating efforts to stabilise the region. The latest incident in Zawtar al-Gharbiya underscores the fragility of the ceasefire and the challenges facing the implementation of the accord.
The village, located near the border, has been a focus of the pilot programme aimed at rebuilding state authority in areas previously under Hezbollah's influence. The Lebanese army's deployment was seen as a positive step towards implementing the agreement, but Saturday's events highlight continued obstacles.
Local officials have called for international pressure on Israel to respect the terms of the agreement and allow the Lebanese military to carry out its duties without interference. The situation remains tense, with residents wary of further incidents.
