FILE PHOTO: A man rides past the rubble of buildings damaged in Israeli strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs in Beirut, Lebanon, 6 July 2026; Credit: REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon and Israel concluded US-brokered talks in Rome on Wednesday 15 July 2026, with a US official saying they had made progress on implementing a plan that could see Israeli forces begin to withdraw from parts of southern Lebanon within days.

The two longtime foes held ambassador-level talks at the US embassy in Rome on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July 2026 — their sixth round of face-to-face negotiations since a new war erupted on 2 March 2026 between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, triggered by the wider regional conflict.

Under a US-brokered framework agreement reached on 26 June 2026, Lebanon and Israel agreed to implement a "pilot zone" project that would see the disarmament of militant groups — an apparent reference to Hezbollah — as well as the deployment of Lebanese troops to the south and the progressive withdrawal of Israeli forces still occupying Lebanese territory.

In written comments distributed to journalists, a US official described the two days of talks as "productive and positive".

"We agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days," the official said.

The official said talks would move to a technical phase to implement the framework agreement and reach a "comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon."

There was no immediate comment from either Lebanon or Israel on the progress made during the talks.

The Israeli military is occupying what it describes as a "buffer zone" extending about 10 km into Lebanon along the entire length of the Israeli border. Israeli officials say the zone is necessary to protect communities in northern Israel from attacks launched by Hezbollah.

Lebanon has called for Israel to begin withdrawing immediately, but Israel has said its troops will remain in southern Lebanon for as long as Hezbollah remains armed.

The direct talks have continued despite intermittent deadly Israeli strikes and strong objections from Hezbollah, which rejects disarmament and says only pressure from its ally Iran can secure an end to the war and Israel's withdrawal.