A deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah faces its first test on the ground, as the Lebanese army begins taking charge of security in three southern villages, Washington says according to AFP.

The United States said operations had started in “pilot zones” in Froun, Srifa and Zawtar al-Gharbiya “in accordance with the Trilateral Framework and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon”.