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Lebanon and Israel concluded two days of U.S.-mediated negotiations in Rome on Wednesday, agreeing on the structure and guidelines for implementing two pilot zones in southern Lebanon under a recently reached framework agreement, a U.S. official said.
“Talks concluded after two days of productive and positive discussions,” the official said in a statement shared by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.
The participants agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, which is expected to be finalized and implemented in the coming days, according to the official.
The negotiations in the Italian capital centered on a framework agreement reached last month following five rounds of talks in Washington.
Lebanese negotiators entered the latest round seeking progress on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
The agreement is intended to end the state of war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, disarm the Iran-backed group, deploy Lebanese troops in the south and secure the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the country.
Under the framework, Israel’s withdrawal would begin with the establishment of two pilot zones in southern Lebanon.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Tuesday that Israel was “ready to move forward implementing these two pilot zones.”
However, the agreement does not establish a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal and has been rejected by Hezbollah.
Israeli officials have also said their forces will remain in a security zone extending 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, along the frontier for as long as Hezbollah remains armed.
Lebanon and Israel, which do not have formal diplomatic relations, began negotiations after Hezbollah brought Lebanon into the broader Middle East conflict by attacking Israel in March.
The U.S. official said the sides would now move to expanded technical talks focused on implementing all parts of the Trilateral Framework.
The next phase of negotiations will seek to advance the framework with the goal of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The agreement was reached following a fragile ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out occasional strikes in southern Lebanon and conduct detonations in villages it occupies near the border.
The framework calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament, the deployment of Lebanese troops in southern areas and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, beginning with the two pilot zones discussed in Rome.
The Rome negotiations took place ahead of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s planned visit to Washington on June 21.
Aoun is scheduled to travel to the U.S. capital at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The visit will follow the latest round of talks and comes as the parties prepare to begin expanded technical discussions on implementing the full framework agreement.
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