Lebanon urges progress on Israel deal in talks with Rubio

Lebanon urged progress on the Israel deal during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Monday. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called for the further implementation of a framework agreement with Israel, which was signed in June under US guidance. The deal aims for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the disarmament of Hezbollah, but progress has been slow.

Salam stressed the need to move from the framework stage to practical steps, leading to Lebanon's full sovereignty and Israeli withdrawal. He also proposed a credible verification mechanism to monitor implementation and ensure compliance with commitments. Rubio reaffirmed US support for Lebanon's sovereignty, free from Hezbollah and Iranian influence, and pledged continued US backing for the Lebanese military tasked with disarming Hezbollah.

The framework agreement involves the deployment of Lebanese forces in "pilot zones" south of the country, with the first test area recently coming under Lebanese military control. US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa visited one of these pilot zones this month to assess conditions and progress on the ground. Despite the agreement, Israel continues to conduct strikes on Lebanon and maintains a presence in the south.

Recently, Lebanon reported a large explosion in the southern town of Mansouri, set off by the Israeli army, following an operation to dismantle "terrorist" infrastructure.