As direct talks between Lebanon and Israel enter their seventh round in Rome, the Lebanese delegation reports receiving no response from the Israeli political leadership regarding a permanent ceasefire commitment. Meanwhile, field operations, military movements, and airstrikes continue across southern Lebanon alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The First Day in Rome: Division Between Political and Military Tracks
The seventh round of direct negotiations opened in the Italian capital with mediation from the United States, concluding its first day without breakthroughs on core issues. According to sources at the presidential palace in Baabda, afternoon sessions split into two separate tracks: a political meeting addressing border demarcation and a military discussion focusing on verification mechanisms for the framework agreement.
During the political sessions, the Lebanese delegation presented its proposal for border demarcation. However, officials did not receive answers from the Israeli political side concerning ceasefire commitments, leaving the central question of halting hostilities unresolved as discussions continue through Thursday.
Opening sessions also touched on continuous military strikes in southern Lebanon, accompanied by extended statements from the U.S. ambassador and Lebanese Ambassador Simon Karam regarding implementation mechanics.
Field Escalation and Airstrikes Across Southern Lebanon
The diplomatic track in Rome unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing military activity on the ground. Official reporting documented six ceasefire violations by the Israeli military, including renewed airstrikes on Nabatieh al-Fawqa. An Israeli drone targeted a location in the al-Ruweis neighborhood following an earlier strike that same afternoon.
Military engineering operations and explosions occurred in the open ground between al-Mansouri and Majdal Zoun in the Tyre district, alongside similar detonations in Houla within the Bint Jbeil district. Artillery fire struck Ayta al-Jabal and the outskirts of Houla, coordinated with reconnaissance drone flights overhead.
State news reports recorded armored movements in the south, noting that Merkava tanks accompanied by a D9 bulldozer advanced toward the edges of Houla and Ayta al-Jabal, where a tank fired a shell toward a local home. Separately, troops executed a recovery operation for a military vehicle previously disabled by Hezbollah attacks in the Wadi Salouqi area.
Stakes Over Territorial Withdrawal and Experimental Zones
Lebanese authorities continue to press for sequential withdrawals leading to a complete end to the Israeli military presence in the south. Prime Minister Nuaf Salam emphasized in a recent cabinet session that achieving these phased pullbacks remains a top national priority.
These talks follow initial implementation steps involving the withdrawal of forces from the outskirts of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, designated as an experimental zone under the framework agreement signed on June 26. Following that pullback, the Lebanese army deployed to the area, allowing residents to return after completion of clearance surveys.
While Beirut entered the current round seeking to designate new experimental zones including Bint Jbeil and Khiam, political analysts note a divergence in negotiating leverage. Commentary published during the talks points out that Israel operates from a position of military advantage, frequently intensifying field pressure ahead of diplomatic sessions to extract concessions, while Lebanon relies on international engagement to enforce compliance.
U.S. Positioning and the Broader Security Framework
The U.S. State Department issued a statement following the conclusion of the first day of negotiations, outlining the ongoing scope of international participation.
The Rome discussions bring together the technical teams from Lebanon and Israel in order to advance the implementation of the tripartite agreement. U.S. State Department, via Arab48
Washington added that the United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments in ensuring progress. At the same time, regional diplomats have urged careful sequencing of technical steps to protect local populations before expanding withdrawals to new sectors.
The Lebanese Armed Forces announced the seizure of a large quantity of rockets and combat ammunition in the border town of Arsal after being smuggled across the Syrian frontier, highlighting the persistent enforcement challenges facing state institutions as the Rome talks proceed through August 6.
