Lebanon and Israel Convene in Rome to Advance Implementation of U.S.-Brokered Ceasefire Framework

Beirut seeks concrete steps toward Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Published On 14 Jul 202614 Jul 2026

Lebanon and Israel have resumed negotiations in Rome, with Beirut aiming to secure progress on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a U.S.-brokered agreement, though expectations for rapid advances remain cautious.

Lebanese and Israeli officials commenced two days of discussions at the U.S. embassy in Rome on Tuesday to address implementation of the framework agreement intended to end the conflict in Lebanon, according to Lebanese officials who spoke to Reuters.

One official noted that relocating the talks to Rome would facilitate easier consultations with their respective governments during negotiations.

The Lebanese presidency announced that President Joseph Aoun directed the delegation to demand an immediate Israeli withdrawal from two designated southern Lebanon areas before any further talks proceeded.

On Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy offered to host the proceedings to advance toward a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon.

“We are also very pleased that Rome can serve as the venue for these meetings. In this way, our capital becomes a capital of peace,” Tajani said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels.

The negotiations follow a June 26 meeting in Washington, D.C., which produced an agreement calling for an end to Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, disarmament of armed groups — broadly understood as Hezbollah — deployment of Lebanese forces to the south, and phased Israeli troop withdrawals.

Despite the accord, Israeli strikes have persisted, and Hezbollah has rejected both the agreement and disarmament efforts. Israel maintains its forces would remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah retains arms.

Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel resumed on March 2 amid the broader regional conflict, with U.S.-led diplomacy progressing despite strong objections from the Iran-aligned militant group.

In mid-June, the U.S. and Iran reached an accord stipulating that fighting would cease on all fronts, including Israel’s war on Lebanon. However, Israel views its conflict with Hezbollah through a national security lens and continues military operations.

Israel’s military occupies a “buffer zone” approximately 10 km (6 miles) deep into Lebanon along the full Israeli border, which it claims is essential to protect northern Israeli towns from Hezbollah attacks.

In remarks published by his office on Monday, President Aoun expressed hope that the Rome meeting would produce “tangible and practical steps on the ground,” including commencement of Israeli troop withdrawal to enable Lebanese army deployment to the south.

A Lebanese official indicated that the delegation would push for a sequential Israeli troop pullout “zone by zone,” aligning with the “pilot zone” framework in which Hezbollah disarms, Israeli forces withdraw, and Lebanese troops deploy incrementally across southern Lebanon.

The June 26 agreement identified two initial zones for this process. A U.S. official reported that CENTCOM is coordinating pilot zone launches with both nations. A U.S. military team visited Lebanon over the weekend to discuss implementation details with the Lebanese army, sources told Reuters.

Israeli operations have displaced Lebanon’s local population and involved controlled detonations of entire villages, claiming infrastructure destruction—including underground tunnels—used by Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s health ministry reports over 4,000 deaths and more than a million displaced by Israel’s war since March. At least 32 Israeli soldiers and four Israeli civilians have been killed by Hezbollah, primarily in southern Lebanon, since Israel’s offensive began.

Source link