Israel-Lebanon Rome talks pushed to October as Hezbollah strikes intensify

Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, scheduled to take place in Rome, have been postponed until October, according to a US official. Initially, the talks were set to occur in early September, but the US had indicated they would be pushed back to September. Despite the delay, the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will convene at the State Department in Washington the following week to discuss ongoing developments and the implementation of a framework deal agreed upon in June.

This agreement, known as the Trilateral Framework, aims to disarm Hezbollah, gradually withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanon's south, and deploy the Lebanese army to specific regions. The US official emphasized that the framework remains the sole viable mechanism to restore Lebanon's sovereignty and ensure Israel's security. The conflict escalated following the US and Israel's war against Iran in late February, with Hezbollah entering the fray by launching missiles at Israel.

After a brief respite in violence, arising from an understanding between Iran and the US in June, and an agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the intensity of Hezbollah's strikes has risen in recent days. The decision to delay the Rome talks was influenced by multiple factors that prevented key attendees from participating. These factors included preparations for the upcoming UN General Assembly, Jewish holidays, and a Paris conference supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, as per a source familiar with the planning.