US: Israel-Lebanon talks remain on positive track despite recent setbacks

The US State Department confirmed that the next round of Washington-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held in Rome in early September. This follows a week of negotiations that encountered several obstacles and setbacks. A US official stated on Tuesday that the political process will resume in Rome, with consultations continuing in Beirut, Jerusalem, and Washington in the interim. The official described last week's three-day talks as "constructive," noting that both sides reached understandings on criteria for verifying the clearance of Hezbollah infrastructure, a move intended to pave the way for new "pilot zones." The previous round of talks ended prematurely due to an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Beirut has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the Israeli withdrawal, alleging that Jerusalem is delaying the process ahead of October elections. Israel maintains that the disarmament of Hezbollah and its verification must be completed first. Under a framework agreement reached in June, Hezbollah is to be disarmed, Israeli forces are to withdraw gradually, and the Lebanese army is to deploy to the region. Implementation is set to begin with pilot zones, two of which have already been established. Last week's talks marked the seventh round since the regional conflict began in March, which was triggered by Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with airstrikes and ground operations, seizing a strip of land approximately 10 kilometres deep into southern Lebanon. Over one million Lebanese civilians have been displaced, and Israel claims to have destroyed significant Hezbollah infrastructure in the occupied areas. Lebanon reports that Israeli operations have killed over 4,300 people, though these figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The US State Department noted that the escalation last Wednesday, following a deadly Hezbollah bomb attack on Israeli forces and subsequent retaliatory strikes, subsided within 24 hours. Washington credited a trilateral mechanism between the US, Israel, and Lebanon for the de-escalation. In the upcoming technical talks, Lebanon is expected to present detailed roadmaps for securing new areas and advancing the pilot zone plan. The parties must still agree on details such as the body responsible for verifying the Lebanese army's clearance operations. Washington also stated it shares Israel's opposition to extending the UNIFIL mandate, arguing the force has been ineffective in preventing Hezbollah's rearmament. Furthermore, Israel and Lebanon must determine which countries will serve on an independent committee to verify the disarmament of the pilot zones. A source told The Times of Israel that Jerusalem opposes the inclusion of nations that have taken action against it in international forums. Despite acknowledging domestic political pressures and Hezbollah's attempts to undermine the process, the US State Department maintained that the overall trajectory remains positive, emphasising that implementation must proceed in stages, starting with the success of the pilot zones.