Saudi-owned Al-Hadath reports, citing Lebanese presidency sources, that today's negotiations in Rome centered on two pilot zones for the IDF's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The sources described the talks as 'very constructive' and said an announcement on the pilot zones is expected in the coming days.
In a new report citing Lebanese presidency sources, the Saudi-owned Al-Hadath channel revealed that the negotiations in Rome on Monday focused on defining two pilot zones for the IDF's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The sources described the talks as 'very constructive' and said an announcement on the pilot zones is expected in the coming days. This report provides the first detailed account of the content of the discussions, which had previously been reported only in general terms of 'progress'.
On Monday, The Zioneer tracked the negotiations from the outset: initial reports at 20:35 Jerusalem indicated that the sixth round had opened and that Israeli and Lebanese delegations had arrived. Throughout the day, the focus shifted from Israeli claims of Lebanese delays to a Lebanese report that the round had concluded, followed by a senior US State Department official's confirmation to N12 that the talks were productive and would resume on Wednesday. Finally, i24NEWS reported that the round had concluded with 'further progress' without specifics. The source base evolved from single-sourced Lebanese reports to on-record US confirmation. The Al-Hadath report now adds a new channel of information from the Lebanese presidency.
As The Zioneer has reported, the pilot zone concept has been central to the withdrawal agreement. On June 25, Al-Hadath reported a principled agreement on pilot zones. The IDF began a pilot withdrawal from southern Lebanon zones on June 28, but the process was delayed pending a trilateral oversight mechanism, as The Zioneer reported on June 30. On July 8, a Lebanese official expressed reservations about participating in the Rome talks, demanding Israel withdraw from the pilot zones first. On July 9, Lebanon demanded a binding timetable. The current talks in Rome are part of the sixth round of negotiations.
The specific locations of the two pilot zones have not been disclosed. The announcement is expected in the coming days, but no official confirmation from Israel or the US has been received. The timeline for Hezbollah's disarmament remains unclear, and the mechanism for the withdrawal and entry of the Lebanese army may require an additional military meeting in Rome, according to the Al-Hadath report.
9 developments
- DevelopingIsrael and Lebanon reach final agreement, source says
- StrongNew round of Israel-Lebanon talks scheduled for mid-July, according to report
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- StrongLebanon to participate in Rome talks with Israel on July 24-25, official says
Source and signal
- Internal intake