Israeli and Lebanese officials convened for a new round of U.S.-brokered discussions on Tuesday. The focus is on reinforcing a delicate cease-fire and facilitating the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. However, expectations for a significant breakthrough remain modest.
Months of severe conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group supported by Iran, have resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced over a million people. The clashes started when Hezbollah attacked Israel following the onset of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.
This two-day meeting is hosted at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. It follows a preliminary agreement reached in June to end hostilities in Lebanon. The agreement, signed on June 26, has been criticized in Lebanon, mainly because it lacks a specific timeline for Israel’s withdrawal.
The agreement conditions Israel’s exit on the disarmament of Hezbollah, a process managed by the Lebanese government that has seen limited progress. It specifies that as Israel pulls back, the Lebanese Armed Forces will assume control of these regions, allowing displaced individuals to return home.
The talks occur amid broader regional instability. The U.S.-Iran framework cease-fire agreement signed recently hinged on the cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Recent days have seen both Iran and President Trump declare the deal nullified, increasing uncertainty about Hezbollah’s next moves.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope on Monday for “concrete and practical steps on the ground” and encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to understand that military actions will not secure enduring peace.
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