The seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel concluded on Thursday evening in Rome following three consecutive days of meetings. Arab media sources report that the Lebanese side left disappointed after failing to achieve its primary objective: expanding pilot zones to additional villages in southern Lebanon.
Arab media explained that no agreement was reached because the Israeli side, led by Israel’s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, insisted on verifying full control over the initial two pilot areas before progressing to the next stage. Sources familiar with the matter added that another round of talks is scheduled for September 1.
Israel’s insistence stems from reports indicating that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) do not hold real operational control over the designated zones. Hezbollah continues to maintain a significant presence across large portions of southern Lebanon and has booby-trapped key movement routes. Consequently, Lebanese officers and soldiers have refused to search Hezbollah-affiliated structures due to heavy fears of explosive devices.
This situation leaves Hezbollah operating virtually unchecked, in direct violation of the agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon at the end of June. A tragic reminder of this reality occurred when an explosive device detonated against IDF forces, killing two soldiers and severely injuring four others.
While both Israel and Lebanon have expressed a shared interest in pushing Hezbollah away from the border, active implementation appears limited to the Israeli side. Should the Lebanese army fail to establish actual control over the existing pilot zones ahead of the next scheduled meeting, the continuation and progress of the entire process remain uncertain.