Lebanon and Israel wrap Rome talks on troop withdrawal, report progress

Investing.com -- Lebanon and Israel wrapped up U.S.-brokered negotiations in Rome on Wednesday, with American officials stating that progress was made on a plan that could lead to Israeli forces withdrawing from parts of southern Lebanon within days.

The two countries held ambassador-level discussions at the U.S. embassy in Rome on Tuesday and Wednesday, marking their sixth round of direct negotiations since war broke out on March 2 between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. The conflict emerged from wider regional tensions.

A U.S.-brokered framework deal reached on June 26 established a "pilot zone" project. The agreement calls for the disarmament of militant groups, the deployment of Lebanese troops to southern Lebanon, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.

A U.S. official distributed written comments to journalists describing the two days of talks as "productive and positive."

"We agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the coming days," the official said.

The official added that talks would transition to a technical phase to implement the framework deal and achieve a "comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."

Israel's military currently occupies what it calls a "buffer zone" extending approximately 10 kilometers into Lebanon along the entire Israeli border. Israeli officials maintain the zone is necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks.

Lebanon has demanded an immediate Israeli withdrawal. Israel has stated its troops will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah stays armed.

The direct negotiations have continued despite occasional deadly Israeli strikes and strong opposition from Hezbollah, which refuses to disarm and maintains that only pressure from its ally Iran can end the war and secure Israel's withdrawal.

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