<div><img src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2026/07/21/multimedia/21mideast-live-lebanon-zhlv/21mideast-live-lebanon-zhlv-facebookJumbo.jpg" class="ff-og-image-inserted"></img></div><p>Israeli forces fired shots near Lebanese army troops on Tuesday as the two sides advanced a U.S.-brokered plan to transfer control of occupied areas to Beirut following months of fighting.</p><p>There were no reported casualties, and Lebanese troops began deploying in the village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon after an Israeli withdrawal earlier in the day.</p><p>The incident occurred ahead of a White House meeting between Lebanon’s president and the U.S. president, who were expected to discuss the security situation and efforts to secure Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory that has been occupied for months.</p><p>The deployment is part of a phased approach in which Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon and the Lebanese military would secure the areas to allow displaced residents to return. The zones are intended to test the broader agreement reached last month to wind down the conflict.</p><p>The Lebanese army said it began deploying to Zawtar al-Gharbiya in the Nabatieh district and urged residents not to return until security stabilized, asking them to follow troops’ instructions.</p><p>Hours later, Lebanese military officials accused Israeli forces of firing near their units, saying the act could hinder deployment in the pilot areas.</p><p>Israel stated that Lebanese forces entered a designated area outside the pilot zone and that Israeli troops fired warning shots into the air to distance them from the area, noting no danger to Lebanese personnel.</p><p>In Lebanon, critics argue the deal lacks a firm withdrawal timetable and concerns persist over disarming Hezbollah, which did not participate in the negotiations and has rejected the framework agreement.</p><p>Israel, the U.S., and Lebanon planned joint planning and coordination to implement the agreement, including a military coordination group overseen by the United States, as part of last month’s deal.</p><p>The State Department said the pilot-zone operations would cover the villages of Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, with limited diplomatic talks having taken place in Washington and Rome.</p><p>Hezbollah rejected the negotiations and efforts to disarm the group, adding uncertainty about the agreement’s viability and Lebanon’s path to stability.</p><p>At the Oval Office, the leaders indicated they would discuss ways to support the Lebanese army and stabilize the country, with the U.S. president suggesting openness to speaking with Hezbollah if advised by Lebanon’s president.</p><p>Analysts noted the withdrawal, though modest, could allow the Lebanese government to bolster its standing by demonstrating the army’s capability to assert control and potentially prompting further pilot zones in fully occupied areas.</p><p>The latest fighting began in March after Hezbollah attacked Israel in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with large casualties reported on both sides. By Tuesday afternoon, residents were seen maneuvering to access the town, though some were restricted by security measures.</p><p>Local officials described ongoing efforts to clear roads and restore access as residents awaited the chance to re-enter Zawtar al-Gharbiya.</p>
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