Israeli media: Israel tells US pilot zone project in southern Lebanon has failed

Israel has told the United States that a pilot zone project launched in southern Lebanon following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Beirut and Tel Aviv “has failed”, an Israeli news website reported. 

Walla news website reported on Thursday that Israel had sent a message to Washington through security channels saying the “pilot zone” project in southern Lebanon had failed.

It said Israel had expressed its “dissatisfaction” with the Lebanese army’s handling of infrastructure that Tel Aviv claims belongs to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

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The website quoted unnamed Israeli security officials as claiming that the Lebanese army “does not destroy infrastructure at sites for which the Israeli military has provided coordinates, while at the same time requesting additional coordinates”.

According to Walla, the Israeli military establishment has criticised the performance of the Lebanese army, alleging that it is not taking effective action against Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons.

It also quoted senior Israeli military officials as claiming that Lebanese army commander Rudolf Heikal “is afraid of confronting Hezbollah leaders in southern Lebanon”, and that his forces are not carrying out searches for weapons and infrastructure as effectively as Israel demands.

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