Israeli and Lebanese delegations commenced US-mediated peace talks in Rome on Tuesday, aiming to implement a framework agreement designed to cease months of conflict along their shared border with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. The discussions, hosted at the US Embassy in the Italian capital, are scheduled to continue through Wednesday.
The negotiations follow a comprehensive deal reached in Washington on June 26, marking the fifth round of talks between representatives from Beirut and Jerusalem. According to officials familiar with the discussions, the agenda includes arrangements for a potential Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the subsequent deployment of Lebanese forces.
The 14-point Israel-Lebanon Trilateral Framework Agreement also mandates the disarmament of Hezbollah. Israel has stated that its withdrawal is contingent upon the removal of the threat posed by the Iranian proxy. Israeli forces currently occupy a security zone extending approximately six miles into Lebanon along the border.
The June 26 agreement designated two "pilot zones" north and south of the Litani River. Within these zones, Israeli troops would be replaced by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), while Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups would be disarmed. A US official indicated that the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) is coordinating with both Lebanon and Israel to initiate these pilot zones.
Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter, who is leading the talks for Jerusalem, stated in a recent interview that the Rome meetings will focus on establishing the conditions necessary for the LAF to assume control in the designated areas. This, he explained, would allow Israel to begin a phased withdrawal, but only if the Iranian proxy group is dismantled. Leiter emphasized that both Jerusalem and Beirut are in agreement on the objective of removing Hezbollah for Israel's security and Lebanon's sovereignty.
He reiterated that Israel could withdraw "the moment that Hezbollah is dismantled." However, he cautioned that the Israeli military would need to maintain its presence in the security zone if the group retains its weaponry, to prevent a recurrence of attacks similar to those experienced on October 7, 2023, which were carried out by Hamas and led to a wider conflict with Iran and its proxies.
Hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel escalated on March 2, following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the commencement of "Operation Roaring Lion." In response, Israel launched extensive aerial campaigns targeting Hezbollah positions and expanded military operations within Lebanon to thwart cross-border attacks. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had previously pledged to make efforts to halt the hostilities and move to outlaw the Iranian proxy group.
Prior to the Rome talks, Israeli and Lebanese officials engaged in five rounds of direct discussions at the US State Department, which culminated in the framework of understandings reached in June, conditional on Hezbollah's removal from southern Lebanon.