Israel rejects further Lebanon troop withdrawal, Lebanese sources say

Israel is reportedly refusing to pull back its forces from further areas in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese sources. This stance comes after technical and expert-level discussions held in Rome aimed at de-escalating tensions along the border.

Lebanese presidential office circles informed the AFP news agency that Israel's position is contingent on the Lebanese army establishing full control over the initial "pilot zones." Until these zones demonstrate stability and compliance, Israel is unwilling to commit to additional troop withdrawals from the region.

Despite this reported impasse on further withdrawals, a U.S. representative stated that the Rome talks had significantly narrowed the gap between the two parties. The discussions focused on establishing buffer zones following previous clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.

The context for these negotiations involves Israel's intention to create a buffer zone in southern Lebanon after attacks by Hezbollah. The ongoing dialogue seeks to manage the security situation and prevent further escalation, though progress appears incremental and dependent on verifiable actions on the ground.