A high-level Lebanese delegation will fly to Rome on Tuesday for a new round of US-mediated negotiations, aiming to secure a complete cessation of Israeli military activity in the south and pave the way for a troop withdrawal.
Diplomatic push amid fragile truce
The talks, reported by local media, mark a crucial diplomatic effort to stabilise the volatile border region. The Lebanese delegation will be led by seasoned diplomat Simon Karam. He will be joined by Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamaoui Mouawad, and a six-member military delegation.
Beirut is sending a team equipped to handle the intricate details of border security. The roster includes legal expert Antoine Safir, border demarcation specialist Najeeb Massihi, and President Joseph Aoun’s economic adviser, Rawaa Harati. Officials indicated that the delegation’s composition could be broadened depending on how the negotiations unfold.
Pushing for a second pilot zone
Central to Beirut’s strategy is a firm demand for a complete halt to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. The delegation will push for an agreement on a second “experimental zone”, a mechanism they believe is vital to clearing the path for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of the Lebanese army.
The latest round builds on a framework agreement signed in Washington on June 26, which aimed to suspend hostilities. That deal envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal and the disarmament of Hezbollah units by the Lebanese armed forces within designated “pilot zones”. The initial areas identified under this plan include the town of Zaqtar al-Gharbiya and the villages of Froun and Srifa.
