The United States will support a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in early September in Rome, an official from the United States Department of State announced. The official expressed satisfaction with how negotiations are progressing.
The official, who requested anonymity, stated that the political track will resume in Rome at the start of September. Negotiations will continue in the meantime across Beirut, Jerusalem, and Washington.
Washington is pleased with how things are developing as the framework is implemented and initial pilot zones begin operating, the official said. Working groups aligned their terminology, maps, and procedures during a seventh round of negotiations held last week in Rome.
Framework agreement and pilot zones
Israel and Lebanon, which technically remain in a state of war, signed a framework agreement in late June. The agreement provides for the deployment of the Lebanese army into pilot zones as Israeli forces evacuate those areas.
Israel continues to occupy part of southern Lebanon, linking its withdrawal to the disarmament of pro-Iranian Hezbollah. The Islamist movement has repeatedly rejected the agreement and refuses to lay down its weapons.
Despite a ceasefire in effect since June, Israel continues to execute precision strikes in Lebanon. The State Department official said Israeli strikes delayed talks during the latest round in Rome, but the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon quickly provided accurate information to both sides to facilitate communication.
Security roadmaps and military withdrawal
Military delegations completed operational parameters, joint maps, and a roadmap to open future pilot zones, the official said. However, a Lebanese presidency source told Agence France-Presse that Israel had refused to specify new withdrawal zones in southern Lebanon until Lebanese troops verify effective control over the first two sectors.
During the upcoming round of talks, Lebanon will present detailed security roadmaps for new zones as implementation continues in existing areas, the official said. Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March by launching rockets at Israel in support of Iran, prompting Israeli aerial bombardments and a ground invasion in the south. According to Lebanon, the war caused the death of more than 4,300 people.
