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Lebanon, Israel hold Rome talks on troop withdrawal amid limited expectations
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Lebanon, Israel hold Rome talks on troop withdrawal amid limited expectations

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Lebanon and Israel are holding new talks in Rome, brokered by the US, to discuss a framework agreement for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
  • The deal, which aims to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah, calls for Hezbollah's disarmament and the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south.
  • Expectations for a breakthrough are limited as Hezbollah rejects the agreement, and Israel insists on ensuring Hezbollah's absence from withdrawn areas.

Lebanon and Israel convened in Rome for US-brokered talks aimed at advancing a framework agreement for Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The negotiations, held in the Italian capital, follow a previous round in Washington and center on a deal that could end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. This conflict erupted in March amid wider regional tensions.

ready to move forward implementing these two pilot zones. I hope and tend to believe that this round of discussions in Rome will promote it.

— Gideon SaarIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed his country's readiness to proceed with the withdrawal plan.

The proposed framework mandates an end to the war in Lebanon, the disarmament of Hezbollah, and the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south. It also outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from two designated "pilot zones." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed readiness to proceed with these zones, hoping the Rome discussions would facilitate progress. The Lebanese presidency had urged an immediate start to the withdrawal before further talks.

to demand the immediate start of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the two pilot zones before any further discussion

— Lebanese presidencyThe Lebanese presidency instructed its delegation in Rome on the demands for the talks.

However, significant obstacles remain. Hezbollah has outright rejected the agreement, despite pressure from the Lebanese government, dampening hopes for a successful outcome. Israel, represented by Orna Mizrahi of the Institute for National Security Studies, stated its willingness for a gradual withdrawal but conditioned it on the complete absence of Hezbollah from the evacuated areas. Israel also seeks assurances that the Lebanese army can maintain these zones as neutralized territories, preventing Hezbollah's return.

the Lebanese army is ready to gradually take control of the localities from which the Israeli army would withdraw

— Lebanese diplomatic sourceA source familiar with the talks described the Lebanese army's preparedness.

A US military delegation has already begun discussions with the Lebanese army in Beirut regarding the withdrawal process from one of the pilot zones. Despite a fragile ceasefire in effect since last month, the Israeli army has continued limited strikes and demolitions in occupied villages. Lebanese authorities report that over 4,300 people have been killed since the war began in early March. Analysts suggest the chances of a breakthrough in Rome are limited.

willing to withdraw gradually

— Orna MizrahiOrna Mizrahi of the Institute for National Security Studies outlined Israel's conditions for withdrawal.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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