Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
In first, Lebanese army deploys in southern ‘pilot zone’ after Israeli withdrawal
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A Lebanese army soldier stands at a checkpoint in Froun village, southern Lebanon, July 16, 2026. (Mohammed Zaatari/AP)
Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh this morning after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces says in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south.
The LAF says it “renews its call on citizens not to head to the town until the security situation stabilizes, and to comply with the instructions of the deployed military units to ensure their safety.”
The plan sees Lebanese army troops confiscating Hezbollah’s weapons in parts of southern Lebanon and phased withdrawals of Israeli troops.
The Israeli military said yesterday that the plan had begun, but has not yet confirmed it has withdrawn forces in south Lebanon.
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