3 weeks ago
Lebanon Says Israeli Troops Breached Army-Held Village in South
Two countries next to each other, Israel and Lebanon, made a deal in June to try to stop fighting.
The deal said Lebanon's army would take care of some villages and Israel's soldiers would slowly leave.
One of those villages is called Zawtar al-Gharbiya.
One night, soldiers from Israel came into the village and built a big wall of dirt on the road.
Lebanon's leaders said that broke the deal, but Israel's army said it knew nothing about it.
There is a group called Hezbollah that fights in Lebanon, and it does not like the deal and will not give up its weapons.
The two countries keep talking in a city called Rome, but they do not agree yet.
Israel says it will not leave more land until it is sure Lebanon's army is really in charge.
A few soldiers got hurt while cleaning up old bombs.
Many people have been hurt and forced to leave their homes during the fighting.
Israeli troops reportedly entered Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a Lebanese army-controlled 'pilot zone' village, and erected an earthen barrier near the town square overnight.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency and the local mayor confirmed the breach, calling it a violation of the US-sponsored June framework agreement.
The Israeli military said it was 'not aware of such an event in this area.'
Three Lebanese soldiers were wounded, one moderately, while dismantling unexploded ordnance in the village on Saturday.
Israel refuses to discuss withdrawing from more areas until Beirut's military has full control over the pilot zones, while Hezbollah rejects the deal and keeps its weapons.
- Who
- Israeli troops and the Israeli military on one side; the Lebanese army, local mayor Abed Ezzeddine, Lebanon's National News Agency, and Hezbollah on the other.
- What
- Israeli forces reportedly breached the Lebanese army-controlled village Zawtar al-Gharbiya and built an earthen barrier blocking the road near the town square.
- Where
- Zawtar al-Gharbiya, a 'pilot zone' village in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.
- When
- The barrier was erected shortly after midnight, with the incident reported on Saturday.
- Why
- Deep disagreement over implementing the US-sponsored June framework agreement, under which Lebanon is to disarm Hezbollah while Israel gradually withdraws its forces.
Lebanese Perspective
Israeli Perspective
Earthen barrier incident
Lebanese Perspective
An Israeli occupation army force advanced into Zawtar al-Gharbiya and erected a barrier, a violation of the framework agreement confirmed by a Lebanese military source.
Israeli Perspective
The Israeli military said it was 'not aware of such an event in this area.'
Withdrawal from southern Lebanon
Lebanese Perspective
Israel is supposed to gradually pull back its forces under the June agreement and should stop occupying territory and carrying out strikes.
Israeli Perspective
Israel refused to discuss withdrawing from more areas before making sure Beirut's military had full control over the pilot zones.
Hezbollah disarmament
Lebanese Perspective
Hezbollah rejects the June deal and refuses to surrender its weapons.
Israeli Perspective
Under the June agreement, Lebanon is meant to disarm Hezbollah while Israel gradually withdraws, and Israel insists on this being implemented.
Key facts
- Village
- Zawtar al-Gharbiya, southern Lebanon
- Incident
- Earthen barrier erected near the town square, around 100 metres away, overnight
- Agreement
- US-sponsored June framework agreement
- Army deployment
- Lebanese army deployed to the village on July 21
- Returning families
- Around 50 families
- War casualties
- More than 4,300 killed and hundreds of thousands displaced, per Lebanon's health ministry
- Wounded soldiers
- Three Lebanese soldiers wounded while dismantling unexploded ordnance
- Negotiations
- Seventh round of direct talks completed in Rome on Thursday
Quotes
Abed Ezzeddine
Mayor of Zawtar al-Gharbiya
“"An Israeli occupation army force advanced into the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya shortly after midnight... and erected a new earthen barrier near the town square."”
deccanchronicle.com
“"We were surprised to see the barrier in the morning, located around 100 metres from the town square."”
deccanchronicle.com
Lebanese military source
Unnamed Lebanese army officer
“"It was a violation of the framework agreement."”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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