Israel rejects further troop withdrawal from Lebanon

Israel is resisting further troop withdrawals from southern Lebanon, Lebanese presidential office sources told the AFP news agency. This stance comes despite the United States reporting significant progress in ongoing negotiations aimed at de-escalating the conflict with Hezbollah.

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The Lebanese want to open new areas, while the Israeli side insists on reviewing the implementation in the first two zones before moving to the next phase.

The seventh round of talks, held in Rome from Tuesday to Thursday, involved technical and expert-level discussions. While Lebanese sources indicated that the discussions did not yield definitive results regarding the 'pilot zones,' a U.S. State Department spokesperson described the talks as 'productive.' The spokesperson added that both sides have moved 'significantly closer' on the issue of expanding these zones.

Under a security agreement reached in previous rounds, Lebanese armed forces are to take control of designated 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon, disarming Hezbollah while Israeli troops gradually withdraw. Lebanon began deploying its army in the first pilot zone on July 21. Israel, however, insists on verifying the implementation in these initial zones before proceeding to further phases.

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The expansion of the plan is not automatic and will only be pushed forward if the Israeli government sees results.

An Israeli official stated that the expansion of the plan is 'not automatic' and will only advance if the Israeli government sees tangible results. The negotiations, which began in mid-April, represent the first direct political talks between Lebanon and Israel in decades, as the two countries officially remain in a state of war and lack diplomatic relations. The primary objective is to solidify the ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia.

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The talks were productive. Both sides have moved significantly closer with regard to the expansion of the pilot zones.