Israel and Lebanon trial 'safe zones' handing three villages to Lebanese Army

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump in the first official visit by a Lebanese head of state since 2009. It comes at a moment of high stakes for the country. Israeli forces are now occupying a significant portion of southern Lebanon following rocket attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel. Tel Aviv insists that the Iran-backed militia be disarmed before it withdraws, something the Lebanese army is likely unable to accomplish. As a result, Israel has launched a '"pilot programme'" for "safe zones", which effectively sees Israel hand control of three Lebanese villages to the Lebanese Army, as Beirut tries to assert its authority.