Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said discussions with Israel in Rome this week made “positive progress” on borders and prisoners, while Israeli strikes continued in southern Lebanon.
Speaking during a cabinet session on Friday, Aoun said the seventh round of discussions addressed the ceasefire, the demolition and bulldozing of homes, borders, prisoner exchanges and “pilot zones”. He expressed hope that practical steps would soon emerge.
At a glance:
- The talks took place in Rome this week and were described by the US State Department as “fruitful”.
- Aoun said the discussions covered ceasefire arrangements, homes, borders, prisoner exchanges and “pilot zones”.
- Lebanon’s National News Agency reported new attacks, including one that slightly injured a Lebanese soldier in al-Mansouri, Tyre.
- The Israeli military issued a forced displacement order for al-Mansouri, where residents said the town was outside Israel’s occupation zone.
What Lebanon and the United States said about the talks
Aoun also told Lebanon’s cabinet that the administration of United States President Donald Trump understood Lebanon’s situation. He was referring to meetings he held last month with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Related coverage: One killed and at least 11 wounded in southern Lebanon strikes.
The US State Department said the discussions were “fruitful” and that Lebanon and Israel were much closer to an agreement on advancing and expanding the pilot-zones process. The Lebanese presidency did not announce a completed agreement, but Aoun said he expected practical steps soon.
New attacks reported in southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported early morning artillery shelling in Meiss el-Jabal, alongside machine-gun fire toward the town. It also reported Israeli drone flights over Beirut and its suburbs, an explosion near a mosque in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah and an attack on water utility workers repairing the network in Bint Jbeil.
The Lebanese army said a soldier was slightly injured when an Israeli attack struck an army bulldozer in al-Mansouri, Tyre, as it opened roads and removed rubble. Tyre was also attacked on Wednesday, when Israeli air raids and shelling wounded at least eight people, according to the report.
More context: Residents fear for their return as Israel resumes attacks in south Lebanon.
Displacement order adds to frustration
Displaced families have voiced mounting frustration over what they described as Israel’s refusal to abide by the June 26 “framework agreement”. The reported attacks came as Aoun presented the Rome discussions as a possible route toward practical progress.
The Israeli military also issued a forced displacement order for al-Mansouri. Residents objected that the town was outside Israel’s occupation zone, according to the source report.
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