Aoun from Washington sets 3 conditions for Hezbollah disarmament and Salam in Zawtar al-Gharbiya
Israel-Lebanon framework: Aoun links Hezbollah disarmament to ending Israeli presence, army control of areas, and reconstruction
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during his visit to Washington, linked Hezbollah’s disarmament to three essential conditions, while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam planted the Lebanese flag in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya and declared that what the town is witnessing is the “beginning of the Israeli withdrawal” from Lebanese territory, within the framework of implementing the framework agreement between the two countries under US sponsorship.
Aoun sets 3 conditions for Hezbollah disarmament
President Joseph Aoun affirmed during a dinner hosted by the Lebanese ambassador in Washington that Hezbollah’s disarmament is possible with genuine political will, but requires three essential elements.
Aoun explained that these elements are: ending the Israeli presence in Lebanese territory, the Lebanese army assuming full control over all areas, and implementing a reconstruction program managed solely by the state without external interference.
Aoun stressed that Lebanon cannot be secure or united unless it is one state with one army protecting all Lebanese without discrimination, considering that the success of the Lebanese model represents “a message of hope for the Middle East and the world.”
Salam plants the flag in Zawtar al-Gharbiya
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived in the town of Zawtar al-Gharbiya in southern Lebanon, accompanied by the Defense Minister and military commanders, and planted the Lebanese flag in the town square, describing this as the “beginning of the Israeli withdrawal” from Lebanese territory.
Salam said: “Our goal is the complete Israeli withdrawal from all our territory. What we are witnessing today is only the beginning, but we are determined to move forward.”
Salam’s message to the people of the south
Salam addressed a message to the people of the south, saying: “The Lebanese army and security forces are here to protect our returning people. We will continue to open roads, clear rubble, and secure basic services, to allow our people to return safely and with dignity to their homes and villages.”
He added: “The return of life to the south is not just a slogan, but a national goal. The return of our people to their land is the truest expression of Lebanon’s unity and sovereignty.”
مع بدء الانسحاب الاسرائيلي كلمتي من زوطر الغربية صباح اليوم:
أودّ أن أوجّه كلمة إلى اللبنانيين جميعًا، ولا سيّما إلى أهلنا في الجنوب، من بلدة زوطر الغربية. إن هذه لحظة وطنية تحمل أبعادًا سياسية ومعنوية كبيرة، لأنها تمثّل بداية الانسحاب الإسرائيلي من أرضنا.
لقد أكدنا منذ البداية… pic.twitter.com/c6OgiDHZ8R
— Nawaf Salam نواف سلام (@nawafsalam) July 22, 2026
Lebanese army begins deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiya
The visit coincided with the start of the Lebanese army’s deployment in the town, where a unit from the engineering regiment entered accompanied by a military bulldozer to clear rubble and open roads, while army personnel began inspecting damaged areas and assessing destruction, in preparation for rehabilitating infrastructure.
The Israeli army had been positioned on the outskirts of the town and had prevented its residents from returning for a long period, according to a military source, reflecting the beginning of implementing the security arrangements agreed upon between the two sides.
Pilot zones
The US State Department had announced the start of implementing pilot zones in three towns: Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Froun, and Srifa, within the framework agreement aimed at testing the mechanism of Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese army deployment, before expanding it to include other areas in the south.
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