Middle East

Second day of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome. Ambassadors seek agreement on the withdrawal of the Israeli army

The delegations are meeting at the US Embassy

by Rome Editorial Staff

15 July 2026

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Key points

The findings from the first day
The framework agreement
What is being discussed in Rome
Axios: ‘Trump told Netanyahu to withdraw from Syria and Lebanon’

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Versione italiana

A two-day event aimed at enabling Israel and Lebanon to reach an agreement. On Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July, Rome is hosting the sixth round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. The previous five rounds were hosted in Washington. This time, the meetings between the delegations are taking place at the US Embassy. The new round of talks in the capital was announced in recent days by the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, during a meeting at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington.

The findings from the first day

On the first day, the talks at ambassadorial level lasted for around five hours. According to a spokesperson for Leiter, who is leading the Israeli delegation, the parties discussed the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon, which Israel agreed to as part of the framework agreement brokered by the US at the end of last month, but which it has not yet implemented. A spokesperson for the US State Department explained that the talks were productive and took place in a positive atmosphere. The US spokesperson also emphasised that both sides are keen to move forward.

Talks are resuming today. The aim is to consolidate the ceasefire and put into effect the framework agreement reached on 26 June in the US capital.

Italia has taken steps to persuade the parties to refrain from further military operations, calling on Iran to urge Hezbollah to halt its actions against Israel. “The fact that the negotiations are taking place in Rome is very important and demonstrates the key role Italia is playing in promoting peace in the Middle East,” emphasised Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

The framework agreement

The agreement brokered by the United States sets out a 14-point plan aimed at bringing the state of war to a definitive end. The agreement paves the way for the withdrawal of Israeli forces (IDF) from southern Lebanon, the deployment of the Lebanese regular army in the border areas and the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias, whilst affirming the Lebanese state’s monopoly on the use of force.

Colloqui tra Israele e Libano all'ambasciata statunitense a Roma

What is being discussed in Rome

The talks in Rome are intended to establish a concrete “roadmap” for this plan, which is based on the concept of “pilot zones”. On the one hand, there is the Lebanese proposal: Beirut is calling for a gradual but immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from specific pilot zones in the south of the country, to allow the Lebanese regular army to take over immediately and assume control of security. The main sticking point is security and effective disarmament. Hezbollah rejects the agreement (which effectively provides for its military dismantling), making implementation on the ground very complex. Israel, for its part, demands absolute guarantees that the evacuated areas will not be reoccupied by Shia militias before the withdrawal is complete. The meeting in Rome is specifically aimed at finding a technical compromise on this transition, setting out the timetable and procedures by which the Lebanese army will take over from the Israeli army in the first designated areas. On 21 July, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun will meet US President Donald Trump.

Axios: ‘Trump told Netanyahu to withdraw from Syria and Lebanon’

According to Axos, citing sources close to the matter, Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel must begin withdrawing its forces from Syria and Lebanon. The message was conveyed during a telephone call between the two leaders last Thursday. The US President told Netanyahu that the presence of the Israeli army on Syrian territory is creating tensions and could lead to an escalation. “They don’t want you there. You must redeploy your troops,” Trump said, according to a US official.