Rome talks test Israel-Lebanon framework deal
Israel and Lebanon held talks in Italy after a US-brokered framework that faces disputes over Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah’s weapons.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Israel and Lebanon have held another round of talks in Italy over a US-brokered framework aimed at easing the conflict across their border, Al Jazeera reported. The discussions matter because the deal’s core terms remain contested: Lebanon wants Israeli forces out of the south, while Israel wants Hezbollah disarmed.
According to Al Jazeera, the talks in Rome followed an agreement reached last month that calls for Hezbollah to give up its weapons and for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon in stages. The discussions were intended to advance that arrangement, but the positions outlined by the parties show why implementation remains difficult.
Disputes over withdrawal and weapons
Al Jazeera reported that Lebanon is pressing for Israeli troops to leave territory in the south. Israel, according to the broadcaster, is insisting that Hezbollah lay down its arms as part of the framework.
The broadcaster said Hezbollah has rejected the deal. That rejection raises a central problem for the talks because the framework includes provisions directly affecting the group, while the Lebanese state would be expected to assert control in areas where Hezbollah has long operated.
Al Jazeera said the Lebanese army’s ability to take control is one of the major questions surrounding the process. The report did not say whether the Rome talks produced new commitments or a timetable for implementing the agreement.
Heavy toll in Lebanon
Al Jazeera reported that, since March, the Israeli military has killed more than 4,000 Lebanese people and displaced more than 1 million. The broadcaster also said Israel is occupying 600 square kilometres in southern Lebanon.
Those figures form the backdrop to the diplomatic effort. The framework seeks a phased Israeli pullback, but Al Jazeera’s account shows that the two sides remain focused on different immediate demands.
The talks were discussed on an Al Jazeera programme hosted by Sami Zeidan. The guests were Ali Rizk, identified as a security affairs analyst specialising in US foreign policy and counterterrorism; Adolfo Franco, a US Republican strategist and foreign policy analyst; and Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House.
Al Jazeera published the programme on July 15, 2026, with a running time of 27 minutes and 55 seconds. The segment framed the Rome meeting around whether the framework can move ahead while Hezbollah rejects it and while questions remain over the Lebanese army’s capacity to enforce control.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.