'Trump economic zone' for Lebanon calls for occupation, forced displacement: Report

Plans for a “Trump economic zone” in south Lebanon include seizing land from 27 Lebanese villages, granting Israel 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.