Beirut, July 21 -- The Lebanese army began deploying troops to one of three designated "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, marking the first implementation of a US-brokered agreement under which Israeli forces are to withdraw from parts of the border region.
The deployment coincides with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's visit to Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump, whose administration helped broker the agreement signed in late June.
Israel invaded southern Lebanon amid its parallel war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and has continued to occupy a strip of territory extending around six miles beyond the border despite a ceasefire.
Israeli officials have maintained that until the Hezbollah is disarmed, the...