US Embassy in Rome

Lebanon and Israel held a new round of US-sponsored talks in Rome, with Lebanon seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Discussions are scheduled to continue until Thursday at the US embassy in Rome.

Lebanon and Israel have initiated a new round of US-sponsored direct talks in Rome, focusing on Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The negotiations, the seventh round, aim to address a June-agreed framework involving Hezbollah's disarmament and Lebanese army deployment, though Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem criticized the talks as bringing 'shame and humiliation' for Lebanon.

Lebanon and Israel concluded talks in Rome over 'pilot zones' under a US-brokered framework, agreeing to Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and Lebanese army deployment. A US official confirmed the structure and guidelines for the pilot zones were finalized, though Israel has violated a recent ceasefire and Hezbollah, a key non-state group, rejects disarmament and direct contact with Israel.

Lebanon and Israel concluded U.S.-brokered talks in Rome, with a U.S. official stating progress was made on a plan involving Israeli forces potentially withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon. The negotiations, held at the U.S. embassy in Rome, mark the sixth round of face-to-face discussions since the war between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2.