Israel Drops Hezbollah Disarmament Priority in Lebanon Talks, Al Jazeera Reports

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a high-ranking Lebanese official announced that a new round of negotiations between Lebanon and the Israeli regime, which commenced on Tuesday in Rome, has concluded and its continuation is scheduled for Thursday. These discussions centered on border issues and mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of security arrangements, including the withdrawal of the Israeli army and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

This marks the second round of three-day talks in Rome, following five previous rounds held in Washington. The Lebanese source added that the Lebanese delegation presented its proposal regarding the borders during the political session.

Al Jazeera reported that a significant development in this round was the Israeli delegation’s first-time retraction of its condition prioritizing ‘Hezbollah’s disarmament’ before border discussions.

The Lebanese delegation has proposed designating the areas of ‘Khiam’ or ‘Bint Jbeil’ as new pilot zones. In these areas, the Lebanese army would assume full security responsibility, and in return, Israeli soldiers would undertake a limited withdrawal.

Concurrent with these discussions, internal tensions in Lebanon have escalated. Sheikh Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, called on the Lebanese government to halt ‘field concessions’ and urged attention to Lebanon’s national sovereignty.

These negotiations are proceeding amid ongoing conflict. Since the onset of hostilities last March, Lebanese officials report that 4,333 individuals have been martyred, over 12,000 injured, and more than one million displaced. The Israeli regime has also repeatedly violated the declared ceasefire in Lebanon, resulting in the martyrdom and injury of thousands of Lebanese during the period of its alleged ceasefire.