Following two days of U.S.-mediated talks in Rome, Lebanon and Israel have made progress toward implementing "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces are slated to withdraw and transfer control to the Lebanese army, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday.
The State Department described the talks as "productive," with both parties agreeing on the "structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the coming days." No immediate statements were released by Lebanon or Israel regarding the negotiations' outcome.
A "framework agreement" between Lebanon and Israel was announced on June 26. This plan outlines the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas of southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The initial phase was intended to involve two "pilot zones," where the Israeli military would hand over control to the Lebanese army, tasked with removing any Hezbollah presence from these areas.
Implementation of the pilot zones had encountered delays prior to the Rome talks. Ahead of the negotiations, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is scheduled to visit Washington on July 21, stated that the Lebanese delegation was instructed to "demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions."
While Wednesday's statement did not specify the locations of the pilot zones, previous reports from Lebanese and Israeli officials indicated they would encompass the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh, and Zawtar. These designated zones had sparked controversy within Lebanon, as Israeli troops were reportedly not present in much of the selected territory, raising questions about the process of withdrawal. The Lebanese army had advocated for larger pilot zones that included more territory under Israeli occupation.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched missiles across the border two days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Hezbollah and Iran had sought to connect the end of the war in Lebanon to the results of broader U.S.-Iran discussions. The Lebanese government, aiming to reduce Iran's influence, pursued a strategy of keeping these issues separate and negotiating a ceasefire directly with Israel.
The June 26 agreement also includes provisions for steps toward a potential peace treaty between Lebanon and Israel, countries that have technically remained in a state of war for nearly 80 years since Israel's establishment.
The State Department indicated that after the pilot zones are implemented, "We will move to expanded technical talks ... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."
Hezbollah has expressed strong opposition to direct talks between Lebanon and Israel, stating it will not comply with the agreement and has no intention of disarming. Conversely, Israeli officials have publicly stated their intention for an extended occupation of southern Lebanon.