Is Israel Ending the Agreement with Lebanon?

The seventh round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Rome did not result in a clear breakthrough in implementing the framework agreement, amid differing assessments of the outcomes between Beirut and Washington.

While the Lebanese presidency spoke of a deadlock in the talks, Washington stated that the new round took place in "positive atmosphere".

According to AFP, citing a source in the Lebanese presidency, the seventh round of Lebanese-Israeli negotiations achieved no progress on expanding the areas expected to be vacated by Israel in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli delegation rejected Lebanon's request to add new model areas to the implementation mechanism.

According to the source, Tel Aviv insisted on completing verification of the deployment of the Lebanese army and its full control over the two areas where the agreement has already been implemented before moving to any new phase.

In contrast, the U.S. Department of State described the atmosphere of the talks as "positive", with a spokesperson telling AFP that both sides are now "much closer" to expanding the scope of the pilot phase and completing its implementation.

No official comment has yet been issued from the Israeli side regarding the reports from Lebanese sources.

According to the Lebanese source, September 1 was proposed as an initial date for holding a new round of negotiations, with the U.S. mediator continuing separate communications with both sides until the date is formally confirmed.

The two delegations discussed forming a verification committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the agreement and explored candidate countries for participation. A Lebanese source familiar with the negotiations said an abbreviated list had been agreed upon to complete the selection process later, after Israel objected to the participation of several countries, including France, according to a report published by Euronews.

Leveraging five rounds of talks hosted by Washington, Lebanon and Israel reached a framework agreement on June 26, outlining a gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas under Israeli control in southern Lebanon, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese army, starting with two areas designated as pilot zones for implementing the agreement, along with the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament.

In the first step of implementation, the Lebanese army began deploying in the western town of Zouk el-Fawqa following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from its outskirts, while also reinforcing its military presence in the towns of Srifa and Froun.

The agreement stipulates that military presence in the areas reclaimed by the Lebanese army should be limited to official Lebanese forces, with the removal of any Hezbollah-affiliated infrastructure or military signs, and success in this phase will serve as the foundation for expanding the Israeli withdrawal to additional areas.

Despite a noticeable decline in hostilities since the signing of the understanding memorandum between Washington and Tehran in June, coinciding with ongoing Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, Israeli strikes have continued and intensified in recent days.

The seventh round of talks, launched Tuesday in the Italian capital Rome, coincided with a military escalation in southern Lebanon, after Israel carried out a series of airstrikes it claimed targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, following the killing of two Israeli soldiers in an explosion near the town of Majdal Zoun on Wednesday.