A motorcade delegation arrives on the first day of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli delegations on the backdrop of a regional escalation between Washington and Tehran at the US Embassy in Rome. AFP
"Talks concluded after two days of productive and positive discussions," the official said, adding that participants "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days."
The negotiations in the Italian capital followed a framework agreement reached last month after five rounds of talks in Washington, with Lebanese negotiators seeking progress on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The agreement aims to end the war in Lebanon through the disarmament of Hezbollah, the deployment of Lebanese forces in the south, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, beginning with two "pilot zones."
Hezbollah, which has been engaged in fierce clashes with invading Israeli occupation forces in southern Lebanon, has refused direct Beirut-Tel Aviv talks, insisting that Lebanon be included in any wider agreement between Tehran and Washington and demanding Israel's unconditional withdrawal from Lebanese territory.
The wider US-Iran memorandum of understanding sought to halt the US-Israel war against Iran, which erupted on 28 February, and end broader regional fighting, including Israel's war on Lebanon.
Lebanon and Israel, which have no formal diplomatic relations, entered separate negotiations to move the Lebanese track forward independently of the broader US-Iran agreement.
Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,319 people and wounded 12,203 others in Lebanon since 2 March, when Israel escalated its attacks despite an earlier November 2024 ceasefire that it has repeatedly violated.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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