Ongoing Negotiations for Southern Lebanon
The Italian capital is currently hosting a seventh round of United States-facilitated discussions between Israeli and Lebanese delegations. The primary objective of these negotiations is to define new "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon. These zones are intended to facilitate the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, with the Lebanese army subsequently assuming security responsibilities. The three-day diplomatic engagement in Rome takes place against a backdrop of continued Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, despite a conditional ceasefire agreement reached in early June.
A framework deal, brokered by the U.S. on June 26, stipulated that Israeli forces would withdraw from significant areas of southern Lebanon that they currently occupy. This withdrawal was contingent upon the disarmament of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group. However, this condition has not yet been met, and the withdrawal has not been fully implemented. The current round of talks aims to address these persistent challenges and potentially pave the way for a more enduring cessation of hostilities and a complete Israeli withdrawal.
Participants in the Rome Talks
High-ranking political and military representatives from both Israel and Lebanon are attending the Rome discussions. A Lebanese official informed Turkey's Anadolu news agency that the Lebanese political delegation includes former U.S. Ambassador Simon Karam and current Ambassador Nada Mouawad. Brigadier-General George Rizkallah leads the military delegation, supported by legal adviser Antoine Sfeir and land-surveying expert Najib Massihi. The Times of Israel reported that, in addition to senior officials, Israeli military representatives are also participating in the talks.
Understanding the June 26 Framework Agreement
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Since then, Israel has occupied approximately one-fifth of southern Lebanon, and the conflict has resulted in over 4,000 fatalities since March. More than a million individuals have been displaced from their homes, as Israel states its operations target Hezbollah strongholds, primarily in the country's south and in Beirut's suburbs.
A previous ceasefire in November 2024, following a conflict related to Israel's actions in Gaza, did not fully halt hostilities. Israeli forces have continued near-daily attacks, alleging Hezbollah violations of the ceasefire and maintaining their occupation, which is contrary to the spirit of the deal. The Israel-Lebanon framework outlined a "sequenced process" for the Lebanese army to re-establish "effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups," a clear reference to Hezbollah.
The agreement did not explicitly mandate a complete Israeli withdrawal from the 20 percent of Lebanese territory it occupies. Instead, it proposed a "progressive redeployment" from Lebanon, offering two "pilot zones" where the Lebanese military would "gradually assume full and effective security responsibility." The initial Israeli withdrawal under this pilot zone program occurred in July. However, Israel continues to maintain a buffer zone, referred to as the "Yellow Line," extending approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanon. This zone, they argue, is essential for protecting northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks.
Following the signing of the framework agreement in June, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video statement affirming that the agreement would permit the Israeli military to remain in the occupied Lebanese territory. "We will maintain [the buffer zone] until Hezbollah disarms and as long as there is a threat to the State of Israel," Netanyahu stated.
Agenda for the Current Talks
During the sixth round of talks in Rome on July 14 and 15, a U.S. official indicated that Israel and Lebanon had "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days." On Sunday, a Lebanese official informed Anadolu that during this seventh round, Lebanon intends to propose additional pilot areas for Israeli withdrawal. The second phase of this initiative would potentially cover either Bint Jbeil or Khiam, both situated south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon. The military delegation plans to present maps and documents detailing the Lebanese army's deployment in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the first pilot area agreed upon in the sixth round. Furthermore, they will present plans for deployments in other areas from which Israeli forces might consent to withdraw.
Prior to the talks on Tuesday, Lebanese Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani expressed the government's dissatisfaction with the developments on the ground since the previous framework agreement. Hani noted that the current situation falls short of the expectations of President Joseph Aoun and the Lebanese government, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). Conversely, Israeli officials have reiterated their position that they will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed.
Outcomes of Previous Discussions
The U.S. initiated the first round of Lebanon-Israel talks on April 14 in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance. However, progress proved challenging, as Hezbollah, not directly involved in the negotiations, urged the Lebanese government to withdraw, deeming the efforts "futile." The second round occurred on April 23, chaired by then-U.S. President Donald Trump. A third round of direct talks commenced in Washington, D.C., on May 14, just days before the expiration of a "truce" that failed to halt Israeli attacks and Hezbollah's responses. No significant breakthrough emerged from these sessions.
Washington hosted a fourth round of talks on June 2 and 3, during which Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire requiring a "complete cessation" of fire by Hezbollah, as stated in a joint declaration. The two countries, which lack formal diplomatic ties, also agreed to establish "pilot zones" where Lebanese forces would "take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors." This agreement was reached despite ongoing cross-border hostilities. Rubio announced the framework deal following the fifth round of talks on June 23 and 26 in Washington, D.C. Nevertheless, continued fighting in Lebanon threatened to undermine efforts toward a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. The sixth round of Lebanon-Israel talks began in Washington, D.C., on July 14, concluding a day later with both sides agreeing to focus on establishing the "pilot zones" for Israeli troop withdrawal. A complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, however, has yet to materialize.
Recent Military Actions in Lebanon
On Tuesday, the NNA reported that Israeli forces deployed phosphorus bombs on olive and pine groves in the towns of Yaroun and Arnoun, as well as in the city of Bint Jbeil in the Nabatieh governorate, resulting in significant fires. The agency also reported two Israeli missile strikes on the Ali al-Taher hill near Nabatieh and an Israeli drone dropping a stun grenade in Bayt al-Sayyad in Tyre. On Friday, the Israeli army conducted strikes near the UNESCO-listed Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. President Aoun described these actions as a "direct threat" to the framework deal, noting that their timing conveyed "negative messages" ahead of the talks.
Hezbollah's Position on the Negotiations
Hezbollah is not a direct participant in these talks, despite being a key party in the ongoing conflict. Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem has stated that Lebanon's direct negotiations with Israel yield "nothing other than shame, humiliation, disappointment and constant concessions." However, he has expressed support for the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River. In a televised address marking the 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, Qassem denounced the talks. He also criticized President Aoun's role, asserting that he "did not act as an arbiter and unifier, but instead became a source of division, and this is entirely inconsistent with both his role and Lebanon’s strength." Qassem emphasized his belief that Israel had achieved political gains without any tangible results on the ground. He declared, "We are facing an Israeli-American aggression against us, Iran, Gaza, Yemen, and the entire region," an aggression aimed at colonizing the region and establishing Israel as America’s proxy. The Secretary-General reiterated his commitment to a "unified and indivisible Lebanon," stating that any aggression against the south constitutes aggression against all of Lebanon. He concluded, "The enemy’s only option is to withdraw and it will withdraw." In response, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam criticized Hezbollah, accusing it of leading the country into "futile wars."
Expectations for the Current Talks
U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has expressed encouragement regarding the ongoing talks in Rome, emphasizing the necessity for both sides to agree on a clear process. In a Sunday statement, Issa acknowledged that substantial technical work remains and cautioned that moving "too quickly" could compromise civilian safety. "There is a meaningful difference between drafting an agreement on paper and implementing it responsibly – moving too quickly risks jeopardising the very civilians this process is meant to protect," he stated. "We believe it is better to take the time needed to get this right the first time. Doing so will allow subsequent pilot zones to move forward more efficiently," he added.
However, Heiko Wimmen, who manages the Iraq, Syria, Lebanon project at the International Crisis Group, observed contradictory signals surrounding these negotiations. He noted that "Washington seeks to widen the scope towards a full peace process, while Israel seems to prefer slow-rolling implementation of what has been agreed, and continues actions – like house demolition, burning of olive groves – that seem to point in the other direction." Wimmen also highlighted Hezbollah's renewed rejection of the process, suggesting they could disrupt it at any point, though they appear to wish to avoid blame. He concluded that "It remains unclear how much the extreme volatility of the US-Iran negotiations stands in the way of potential progress, but it appears likely that it does to some extent."
