The U.S. State Department said that the “pilot area” operation began today in the southern Lebanese villages of Fouron, Safira, and Zotar al-Gharbi within a tripartite framework, with support from the military coordination group for Lebanon.

Washington said that the launch of the pilot areas was a direct result of last week’s negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials in Rome, and pledged to continue working with both sides to fully implement the framework.