Lebanon and Israel hold new round of direct talks in Rome

Lebanon and Israel have commenced a fresh series of US-backed direct talks in Rome, as the Lebanese government pushes for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the southern portion of their shared nation. In discussions held in Washington in June, both parties had agreed upon a framework deal that encompassed the disarmament of Hezbollah, a move rejected by Hezbollah at the time, as well as the gradual Israeli troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the subsequent deployment of the Lebanese military to the area.

These ongoing negotiations, slated to persist until Thursday, mark the seventh round of US-sponsored talks. Earlier this week, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem expressed his disdain for the direct negotiations, alleging they would bring Lebanon "nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises." A convoy of vehicles escorted a delegation comprising Lebanese and Israeli officials as they arrived at the US Embassy in Rome for the new round of talks on August 4, 2026 (Tiziana Fabi/AFP).