Key facts
- The US State Department described the latest round of Israel-Lebanon talks as "fruitful."
- The talks, the seventh overall, are focused on establishing "pilot zones" for Israeli withdrawal.
- These discussions are taking place in Rome, Italy.
- Israeli forces continue to conduct strikes in southern Lebanon.
- A framework deal from June 26 outlined a process for Israeli withdrawal in exchange for Hezbollah disarmament.
The United States has described the latest round of talks between Lebanon and Israel as "fruitful," indicating progress toward establishing new "pilot zones" from which Israeli forces would withdraw and the Lebanese army would assume control. The seventh round of these US-mediated discussions concluded in Rome, Italy, on Thursday.
US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that Lebanon and Israel are "much closer to reaching an agreement on advancing and expanding the pilot zones process." These talks occur even as Israeli forces continue to strike southern Lebanon, despite a conditional ceasefire agreed upon in early June.
The June 26 framework deal, brokered by the US, stipulated that Israeli forces would withdraw from occupied southern Lebanese territories in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. However, this disarmament has not yet occurred. The framework outlined a "sequenced process" where the Lebanese army would restore sovereign authority, pending verified disarmament of non-state armed groups. It did not mandate a complete Israeli withdrawal but suggested progressive redeployment, offering two "pilot zones" for the Lebanese military to assume security responsibility.
Israel maintains a buffer zone, referred to as the "Yellow Line," approximately 10 kilometers inside Lebanon, citing the need to protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that the military would maintain this zone until Hezbollah disarms and the threat to Israel persists.
High-level political and military officials from both Lebanon and Israel are attending the Rome talks. The Lebanese delegation includes former ambassador to the US Simon Karam and incumbent Nada Mouawad, alongside military officials led by Brigadier-General George Rizkallah. Legal adviser Antoine Sfeir and land-surveying expert Najib Massihi are also participating. Israeli officials and military representatives are also present.