U.S. Envoy Urges Caution as Lebanon-Israel Rome Talks Continue
DUBAI-U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa on Monday urged a measured approach to ongoing U.S.-mediated negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome, saying careful implementation of any agreement was essential to safeguard civilians and ensure lasting progress.
Issa said the talks remained underway and expressed hope that the two sides could achieve a positive outcome. He stressed, however, that substantial technical work was still required before any agreement could be implemented on the ground.
The ambassador said there was an important distinction between reaching an agreement and carrying it out responsibly, warning that moving too quickly could jeopardize the process and create risks for civilians in affected areas.
He said the parties must first establish a clear and practical mechanism before expanding the pilot-zone process, emphasizing that implementation should proceed only after the necessary technical arrangements are in place.
The latest round of diplomacy follows confirmation by the U.S. State Department last week that technical negotiations between Lebanon and Israel would take place in Rome from Aug. 4 to Aug. 6.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani first announced the new round of talks. A U.S. State Department official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the discussions would focus on advancing implementation of the existing framework agreement.
According to the State Department official, negotiators will seek to expand the pilot-zone process, address outstanding border issues and work toward a broader peace and security agreement between the two countries.
The framework agreement emerged after fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement that began on March 2 amid wider regional tensions in the Middle East.
The Rome meetings are expected to bring together technical teams working to resolve practical issues related to border security, implementation mechanisms and phased Israeli withdrawals from designated pilot zones in southern Lebanon.
Washington has continued to act as the principal mediator between Lebanon and Israel, seeking to reduce tensions along the shared frontier while encouraging both sides to implement the terms of the existing framework agreement.