Lebanon and Israel Hold US-Brokered Talks in Rome

Lebanon and Israel resumed high-stakes negotiations in Rome on Tuesday, July 14, aiming to implement a U.S.-brokered framework agreement that could lead to an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The talks, mediated by the United States and hosted by Italy, are focused on translating a broad diplomatic deal into concrete steps on the ground, though expectations for an immediate breakthrough remain low.

The discussions follow a framework agreement reached in Washington on June 26. That deal calls for an end to the conflict that reignited on March 2, the disarmament of militant groups, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to southern Lebanon, and the progressive withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel's military currently occupies what it describes as a "buffer zone" extending roughly 10 kilometers into Lebanon along the border, which it says is necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from attacks by Hezbollah.

A central objective of the Rome meetings is to establish "pilot zones" as a starting point for implementation. According to officials, the plan involves a sequential process where, in designated areas, Hezbollah would disarm, Israeli forces would...