Lebanon, Israel Resume 2-Day Rome Talks on Israeli Withdrawal as Beirut Demands Pullout From 2 Areas
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14
Lebanon, Israel Resume 2-Day Rome Talks on Israeli Withdrawal as Beirut Demands Pullout From 2 Areas
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14
Summary
Rome hosted a new two-day round of U.S.-brokered Lebanon-Israel talks on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking concrete steps toward an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
President Joseph Aoun told Lebanon's delegation to demand an immediate Israeli pullout from two designated southern areas before broader discussions, while Lebanese officials said they want a zone-by-zone withdrawal.
The talks aim to implement a June 26 framework calling for an end to the war, Lebanese army deployment in the south and the disarmament of armed groups, but Hezbollah has rejected both the deal and disarmament.
Israel says its forces will stay in a roughly 10-km buffer zone until Hezbollah is disarmed, even as U.S. Central Command coordinates pilot zones where Israeli troops would withdraw and Lebanese troops would deploy.
More than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed and over 1 million displaced since March, underscoring the stakes as diplomacy advances despite continued Israeli attacks and low expectations for a quick breakthrough.
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2026 Israel-Lebanon Peace Talks: The Pilot Zone Gamble and the Battle for Southern Lebanon’s Future
Overview
Israeli and Lebanese representatives will meet in Rome on July 15-16, 2026, for U.S.-mediated talks focused on turning earlier political understandings into real action. These talks build on a ceasefire declared in April and a framework agreement signed in June. The main goal is to launch a pilot project in southern Lebanon, where Israel will gradually withdraw from two specific areas and hand control to the Lebanese Army. This process aims to test how well both sides can implement the agreement and build trust, marking a crucial step toward stability in the region.