The United States has confirmed that a new round of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon will take place in Rome from August 4 to 6, with discussions expected to coincide with Israel’s planned withdrawal from two designated “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had earlier announced the upcoming US-mediated talks, while a US State Department official later confirmed the details to AFP on condition of anonymity.
According to the reports, technical working groups meeting in Rome will focus on implementing the existing Israel-Lebanon framework agreement. The agenda will include expanding the pilot-zone arrangement, addressing unresolved border disputes, and exploring steps towards a broader peace and security accord.
The framework agreement was reached after fighting erupted on March 2 between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, amid heightened regional tensions linked to the wider Middle East conflict.
Under the agreement, hostilities in Lebanon are to end, Hezbollah is expected to disarm, Lebanese armed forces are to deploy across the country’s south, and Israeli troops are to gradually pull back through a phased withdrawal from two pilot areas.
The US official said the initial pilot zones would serve as a testing ground, allowing both sides to refine the withdrawal mechanism before extending it to additional areas in stages.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s army has criticised Israel’s continued military activity in the south, saying ongoing operations are obstructing its full deployment under the terms of the agreement.
Despite a reduction in large-scale fighting, Lebanese authorities have continued to report sporadic Israeli air strikes and artillery fire targeting southern parts of the country.
