US sends military team to Beirut to monitor Israeli pullout

The United States will send a military delegation to Beirut in the coming days to help implement the agreement on a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. A US official said the process is now entering the implementation stage, with the first “pilot zone” set to begin in the coming days and additional zones still being mapped. US Central Command, or CENTCOM, will coordinate with Israel and Lebanon on technical and logistical issues. Next week, the two sides are also scheduled to hold closed-door technical talks in Rome. The US-mediated framework on 26 June calls for the Lebanese military to take control of the area. Beirut is demanding that Israel withdraw its troops, while Israel insists on staying as long as Hizbullah remains armed.