Under an agreement between Lebanon, the US and Israel, "pilot zones" are meant to see Israeli forces withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon and hand security control to the Lebanese army.

The goal is to prevent Hezbollah from operating in those areas and gradually end Israel's military presence in the south.

Has the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brought the region any closer to peace, and is the Lebanese military really cabable of establishing control in southern Lebanon? 

DW put these and other questions to Bilal Saab, senior managing director of TRENDS US, a company providing analysis on political, defense, and security issues related to the United States and its Middle East partners.