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Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903033
Lebanese Military Deploys in "Pilot Program" Areas, Securing Hizbullah-Free Zones
(Jerusalem Post) Amichai Stein - On Monday, the IDF confirmed that a pilot program had begun to enable the Lebanese military to enter designated "Safe Zones" in southern Lebanon to verify they have been cleared of Hizbullah operatives and weapons, in cooperation with the U.S. "The pilot areas will serve as a test of Lebanon's ability to exercise its sovereignty in practice by implementing the agreed-upon conditions through the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) under the supervision of [the U.S.]," an Israeli official said. A U.S. official said, "The establishment of these initial pilot zones represents...an opportunity for the Lebanese state to begin to reassert real control in areas historically dominated by Hizbullah....The LAF will clear the areas of terrorist weapons and infrastructure, conduct verified clearance operations, and hold and secure the zones so Hizbullah cannot continue to use these communities as cover for their terror attacks."