The United States announced the start of operations in the first “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon as part of efforts to implement the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Lebanon.

In an official statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that operations in the pilot zones had begun in the towns of Frun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya “in accordance with the Tripartite Agreement and under the auspices of the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon.”

Pigott described the step as “a direct result of the talks between Israel and Lebanon held last week in Rome,” adding that Washington “will continue to work closely with both sides to ensure the successful implementation of the agreement.”