Explainer: How Israel's Lebanon pilot zones work

The US has proposed three pilot zones in southern Lebanon—Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Froun and Srifa—as an initial step towards Israel's phased military withdrawal. Lebanese troops have begun deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiya, clearing roads and removing unexploded ordnance left by Israeli forces. Despite a ceasefire agreement, Israel still occupies roughly 6% of southern Lebanon, where months of fighting have damaged or destroyed numerous villages and displaced hundreds of thousands. The initiative i