The US embassy in Beirut said on the afternoon of the 15th that Lebanon and
Israel concluded two days of talks and have agreed on the structure and
operating rules for a proposed pilot zone. Final procedural steps are imminent
and implementation is expected within days. The embassy said the next phase will
expand technical talks to implement all terms of the trilateral framework and
pursue a comprehensive Lebanon‑Israel agreement. The sixth round of talks began
in Rome on the 14th and focused on a pilot plan for Israeli forces to withdraw
from two southern Lebanese pilot areas, with the Lebanese army to enter the
vacated zones to ensure the absence of HEZBOLLAH weapons.
