A senior U.S. official announced that the U.S.-sponsored Lebanese-Israeli talks have made steady progress, officially moving from the stage of general political understandings to the implementation of the "framework agreement" signed in Washington.
Reuters quoted the US official as saying that a decisive decision on determining the first line for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, in the first phase, will be made in the next few days, stressing the launch of the first "test zone" on the ground within days to implement the agreed arrangements, in conjunction with the continuation of planning and mapping processes for additional areas under the supervision of the US Central Command "CENTCOM".
Rome Summit and Technical Arrangements
In the context of the diplomatic track, the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, clarified, after meeting with Lebanese President Aoun on Thursday, that the Italian capital Rome will host closed meetings on July 14 and 15.
Issa pointed out that the transfer of the meetings to Rome is due to technical reasons to facilitate the movement of delegations, pointing out that the tour will be of an organizational and executive nature that aims to refer detailed issues, legal and border files to specialized technical teams to ensure that no security vacuum occurs when the Israeli forces withdraw.
Issa also announced the arrival of a US military delegation in Beirut within days for field coordination, indicating that Washington will soon communicate with international partners to help the Lebanese government effectively extend its sovereignty in those areas.
Lebanese Conditions and Field Demands
On the Lebanese side, media sources reported that Beirut intends to put forward a basic and binding demand during the upcoming round of Rome, which stipulates a clear and specific timetable for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, considering this condition as a key pillar to continue the political track and avoid limiting the talks to general principles.
For his part, Lebanese President Aoun stressed the need to stabilize the ceasefire and pressure Tel Aviv to stop the bombing, bombing and field bulldozing it carries out in the occupied border towns, expressing Lebanon's bet on the role of US President Donald Trump in curbing Israeli expansion in the south.
Israel's adherence to the so-called "security belt"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his forces will remain in what he called the "security belt" in southern Lebanon as long as security needs require, stressing that the war is not over yet.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stressed that Israel does not need permission from any party to remain in the south to protect the residents of the Galilee from Hezbollah's threats, claiming that the Israeli army has destroyed most of the group's capabilities and leadership over the past two and a half years.
In the same context, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted leaks by the Israeli "Captain" that the framework agreement gave Israel international legitimacy to remain in a security strip 10 kilometers deep along the "Yellow Line," and that the army intends to test the Lebanese army by handing over two test zones within weeks, while reserving the right to direct military intervention to disarm the party in the future.
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