Home › ALJazeera       22.07.2026

Lebanon PM visits first ‘pilot zone’ after Israeli withdrawal amid residents' anger

Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has planted the national flag in Zawtar al-Gharbiya, marking a symbolic return of state authority a day after Israeli forces withdrew from the southern town, one of three designated "pilot zones". Residents remain sceptical, with many stopped at an army checkpoint and told they cannot return home until landmines are cleared. Some houses were demolished just before the Israeli withdrawal, deepening mistrust among locals who say the agreement offers little real change. Lebanon's parliament speaker has said the move barely counts, as the wider question of a full Israeli withdrawal remains unresolved.

Al Jazeera's Heidi Pett reports from the outskirts of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Lebanon.

Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile

#Lebanon #LebanesePrimeMinister #Israel #SouthernLebanon #ZawtarAlGharbiya #LebanonIsraelAgreement #IsraelLebanonWar #IsraelHezbollahWar #LebanonCeasefire #IsraelLebanonWithdrawal #LebanonPilotZones

More video News