Doha: An Israeli army force Friday night incurred towards the town of Zawtar Al-Gharbiya (Western Zawtar) in southern Lebanon, after withdrawing from it last July, in a new breach of the arrangements established for the experimental area under the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Israeli force comprised infantry soldiers, several vehicles, and a bulldozer that was used to create an earthen berm approximately 100 meters from the town square. The situation has raised concerns about the stability of the agreement and the potential for escalating tensions in the region.
The Lebanese army remains stationed at its original position a few meters from the newly constructed berm, while Israeli drones and reconnaissance aircraft conduct intensive low-altitude flights over the town. This development underscores the fragile nature of the framework agreement and the challenges facing both countries in maintaining peace and security.
The Lebanese army had deployed in Zawtar Al-Gharbiya following the Israeli withdrawal on July 21, as it was the first experimental area from which the Israeli army withdrew in accordance with the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on June 26. The recent incursion by Israeli forces marks a significant setback in the efforts to uphold the terms of the agreement and ensure cooperation between the two nations.