Israel and Lebanon Agree on Principles for IDF Withdrawal Pilot Zones Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Following the trilateral framework agreement signed about three weeks ago, representatives from Israel, Lebanon, and the United States concluded two days of productive talks in Rome on Wednesday. The parties announced they reached consensus on the structure and principles for implementing "pilot zones," areas from which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will gradually withdraw. Final details and the actual implementation are expected to be completed in the coming days.

The next phase will involve expanded technical discussions focused on applying all components of the trilateral framework, aiming to reach a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Lebanon. An Israeli official described the talks as positive but noted that further preparations and agreements are needed before starting the initial stages of the pilot zones’ implementation.

According to the agreement, the Lebanese army will gradually assume full security responsibility in the pilot zones, which will serve as a mechanism for the phased redeployment of both Israeli and Lebanese forces. Two pilot zones have already been agreed upon, with additional zones to be determined by mutual consent.

A key unresolved issue is the identity of the third party responsible for verifying the removal of Hezbollah infrastructure from these areas. Israeli officials ruled out United Nations forces and American troops, stating Washington opposes ground troop deployment in this role. The verification mechanism will not involve UNIFIL or UNTSO either.

Discussions continue regarding the handling of private property and facilitating the removal of smuggled weapons while respecting Lebanese law. The successful implementation of the initial pilot zones is a prerequisite for expanding the program further. The talks underscore a shared commitment to disarm Hezbollah and advance the trilateral framework’s objectives.