Lebanon-Israel framework deal faces first major test in Rome: What to know
Lebanon and Israel began a sixth round of talks in Rome to discuss the US-brokered framework agreement, amid delays and disputes over the implementation of the pilot zone arrangement in southern Lebanon.
BEIRUT — Lebanon and Israel began a sixth round of US-mediated talks in Rome on Tuesday as both sides seek to overcome an impasse over the implementation of last month's framework agreement, with disagreements over Israeli troop withdrawals and Hezbollah's disarmament threatening to stall the deal.
What’s on agenda?
The two-day talks bring together delegations led by Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Nada Moawad, and Israel's ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter. The US delegation is headed by Dan Holler, an adviser to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The meeting marks the first round of negotiations to take place outside the United States since Lebanon and Israel launched direct talks in Washington on April 16 aimed at securing a permanent end to hostilities. The discussions followed Israel's expansion of military operations in Lebanon after Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel in March.
