Hussein Kamaleddine, mayor of Srifa, walked through the rubble of his village last week. The houses around him had been bombed, the roads littered with debris. He described the scene as a 'dream' to be back in his home — but one not made possible by the government. 'It is not thanks to the state,' he said. 'This so-called pilot zone is nothing but a scheme by the US and Israel.'
The plan aims to have Israeli forces gradually leave contested areas, allowing the Lebanese Army to move in and, theoretically, prevent Hezbollah fighters from using those zones as bases.
But the reality on the ground has not aligned with the plan’s promises. Just days into the rollout, the Israeli army shot at Lebanese soldiers as they approached one area. Israeli forces continue to demolish homes, drop bombs, and operate drones across southern Lebanon.
Residents reject the plan
Kamaleddine noted confusion over why Srifa and another nearby village, Froun, were selected as pilot zones in the first place. 'Israeli soldiers were never stationed here,' he said. 'This was forced upon us.'
They said their support for the Lebanese Army had 'preserved security and stability,' but that the pilot zones were 'serving the enemy [Israel] by prolonging its presence on Lebanese territory.'
One major concern is the potential for the Lebanese Army to be forced into confrontation with Hezbollah, a group widely seen to have equal or greater military strength. Such a clash, many fear, could spark unrest or even civil war.
Villages under rubble, under threat
In Zawtar al-Gharbieh — also known as West Zawtar — the mayor, Abed Ezzeddine, described the village as 'catastrophe upon catastrophe.' Most of the homes had been destroyed, and families have been unable to return in full. 'We are letting people in gradually,' he said. 'Once the army finishes clearing the roads, God willing, everyone will be able to return.'
Ezzeddine added that the village, though officially a pilot zone, does not feel safe. Nearby, Israeli soldiers remain stationed in East Zawtar, blocking road access. When Associated Press journalists visited Zawtar al-Gharbieh last week, they heard explosions and saw Israeli drones overhead.
Residents in the region remain divided over the plan. While some welcome the return of the Lebanese Army, others fear it could provoke further Israeli action or internal conflict.
Doubts about the plan’s future
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun recently criticized the Israeli military’s actions to the UN’s human rights chief, Volker Türk. 'The behavior of the Israeli army jeopardizes the agreement,' he said.
Analysts and locals alike remain skeptical that the pilot zones will lead to the broader withdrawal Israel is supposed to make. Instead, many suspect the plan is being used to test the waters, to see what will happen if Lebanese forces take over without major conflict.
For now, the pilot zones remain zones of uncertainty — not stability. And for those returning to their ruined homes, the hope is more a matter of survival than of state support.