Lebanon-Israel Talks Resume in Rome Amid Dispute Over Hezbollah Disarmament

Direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are set to resume in Rome on Tuesday, following an agreement signed in late June. The talks come amid renewed tensions between Iran and the United States and focus on implementing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, areas that the Lebanese army is expected to enter.

Despite the agreement, significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding Hezbollah's disarmament. Lebanon's presidency recently instructed its delegation to demand the immediate start of Israel's withdrawal from the pilot zones before any further discussions. An American military delegation has also met with Lebanese army commanders to discuss mechanisms for Israel's withdrawal.

Israeli Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, who leads the Israeli delegation, stated that the Israel Defense Forces will only withdraw once Hezbollah is disarmed. He emphasized that Israel will not return to a situation where its citizens are threatened by an Iranian proxy armed with missiles and tunnels, referencing the Hamas attacks on October 7. Hezbollah continues to refuse disarmament and reportedly relies on Iran to prevent further conflict with Israel.

While the border has been relatively quiet recently, Hezbollah remains heavily armed and opposes the talks, which aim to dismantle its weapons. The critical challenge for the negotiations is whether Lebanon can successfully disarm Hezbollah or if the IDF will withdraw while Hezbollah remains a significant threat in the region.