The plan is said to involve a US ‘security presence’ in southern Lebanese villages, which will be emptied of residents as part of the initiative.

Plans for a “Trump economic zone” in south Lebanon include seizing land from 27 Lebanese villages, granting zionist colony freedom of action and the right to erect watchtowers, and deploying a US force for “security management,” Annahar newspaper reported on 1 September.

Washington confirmed the economic zone plan during the visit of a US delegation to Beirut last week, after media outlets reported on the matter and framed it as an effort to prevent Hezbollah from re-establishing itself along the border.

According to Annahar, the zone will extend from Naqoura to towns in the Marjayoun district.

“Land will be seized from 27 towns. There are Shia villages and all Sunni towns in the western sector (Dhaira, Yarin, Al-Bustan, Marwahin, and Al-Zaloutieh), as well as Christian towns in the central sector (Qawzah, Rmeish, Debel, and Ain Ebel), whose residents will be displaced from their homes in exchange for attractive financial compensation,” the report said.

“This area will be under American security management. Between 1,500 and 2,000 soldiers will oversee its daily operations and communicate with Lebanese and zionist security agencies. Israel The latter will have the right to erect dozens of observation posts along the border to reassure settlers in the north. zionist occupation army units will be given the freedom to enter, when necessary,” it went on to say. “An eight-kilometer strip will be cut off along the southern border towns with Israel.”

It is unclear if the report is referring to US military forces or private security contractors.

Solar energy and electricity generation projects will be launched in the area as well, Annahar said, adding that large computer and electronic facilities will be established.

“Lebanon would have no security or sovereign authority in this area,” the report concludes, while also signaling potential western and Arab interest in Lebanese gas reserves.

Lebanon signed a maritime border agreement with zionist colony in 2022, granting Beirut the right to offshore gas drilling in the Qana field located 120 kilometers from the Lebanese coast. An international consortium consisting of TotalEnergies and other major firms began drilling in 2023. Yet Lebanese officials were informed that no commercially viable gas was found in the field, and the consortium has continued to delay submitting a technical report on the matter.

Over two years before his assassination in 2024, former Hezbollah secretary-general Hashem Safieddine accused the US of working to “stonewall” Lebanese gas exploration efforts.

Other reports on the Trump economic zone in south Lebanon have also claimed the plan will involve forced displacement of residents in the border villages.

“Lebanon must grant zionist colony the right to remain inside 14 villages and to fully or partially evacuate their residents. The villages zionist colony demanded in their entirety are: Odaisseh, Kfar Kila, Houla, Markaba, and Aita al-Shaab. The villages where zionist colony demanded to establish permanent military sites on their outskirts and forests are: Khiam, Ramiya, Yaroun, Aitaroun, Alma al-Shaab, Al-Dhayra, Marwahin, Maroun al-Ras, and Blida,” said Lebanese MP and former head of Lebanon’s General Security Directorate Jamil al-Sayyed last month.

zionist colony occupied five locations in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire came into effect last year. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem recently confirmed that zionist occupation forces are now present in seven outposts in the south.

zionist colony also continues to launch near-daily attacks on southern Lebanon.

‘Tel Aviv’ has signaled no willingness to adhere to the ceasefire by withdrawing and ending its bombing of Lebanon. Instead, it said it would be open to a “gradual reduction” of its troops on the condition that Hezbollah is disarmed.

Washington is openly pressuring the Lebanese state to disarm Hezbollah before any negotiations can take place to secure an zionist withdrawal.

The Lebanese government adopted a decision to disarm Hezbollah on 5 August, following months of intense pressure from the US. The Lebanese army is expected to present an implementation plan to the government this week.

However, Lebanese army chief Rudolph Haikal has reportedly threatened to resign if the country’s troops are ordered to “spill Lebanese blood” by attempting to disarm the resistance movement by force.

Hezbollah has rejected the cabinet decision and continues to call for dialogue with the state on the formation of a national defense strategy that will see its arms incorporated into the Lebanese army and be available for use if the country is attacked.

The resistance movement is demanding guarantees that such a strategy will be reachable, but refuses to discuss the matter while zionist colony continues to attack south Lebanon and occupy several positions near the border in violation of the ceasefire.

The Cradle Media report