Israeli troops withdraw from Lebanese village of West Zawtar in first pilot zone test

In July, Israeli troops withdrew from the Lebanese village of West Zawtar as part of a US-backed pilot zone plan to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon in exchange for Hezbollah's disarmament. Two months later, no further zones have been agreed, and residents say the village is not a model. Homes are damaged, Israeli troops remain nearby, and surveillance drones are common. The mayor calls the program unsuccessful due to lack of services. Nearby East Zawtar is still occupied and being demolished. The conflict began seven months ago, displacing over a million Lebanese, and a ceasefire in June has not stopped Israeli strikes.