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A U.S. official confirmed Friday that the upcoming round of direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, originally scheduled to take place in Rome in early September, has been postponed to October.
Despite the postponement of the Rome talks, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are set to meet at the U.S. Department of State in Washington next week to discuss ongoing developments and advance the implementation of the framework agreement reached in June.
Background and Strategic Context
June Framework Agreement: On June 26, following five rounds of U.S.-brokered talks in Washington, Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement outlining Hezbollah's disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied southern Lebanese territory, and the phased deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces starting with two pilot zones.
U.S. Stance: The U.S. official reaffirmed Friday that the June framework remains the sole viable mechanism for restoring Lebanese sovereignty while ensuring Israeli security.
Regional Conflict Drivers: Following the outbreak of military conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran in late February, Hezbollah engaged in cross-border missile strikes against Israel. Tensions briefly eased following a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding in June alongside the Israeli-Lebanese framework agreement, though Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have intensified in recent days.
Ali al-Tahir Escalation: The postponement follows the destruction of a Hezbollah tunnel network by Israeli forces beneath the Ali al-Tahir heights in southern Lebanon on Thursday, which triggered a 4.1-magnitude seismic event recorded by the USGS.
Factors Behind the Delay
Sources familiar with the preparations cited several logistical factors preventing key figures from participating:
Preparations for the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Overlapping Jewish holidays.
Scheduling clashes surrounding the Paris support conference for the Lebanese Armed Forces.