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Lebanon and Israel held a fresh round of U.S.-sponsored talks in Rome on Tuesday, with Beirut seeking Israel's phased withdrawal from the country's south. The discussions, hosted at the U.S. embassy in the Italian capital, are scheduled to run until Thursday.

Coverage comparison

Reporting from The Hindu — World focuses on two distinct aspects of the ongoing negotiations. One article centers on Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam’s visit to the southern village of Zawtar al-Gharbiya, where he reiterated Lebanon's commitment to a “complete Israeli withdrawal” from areas it occupies. The other piece emphasizes the diplomatic track in Rome, detailing the seventh round of US-mediated talks since the outbreak of the West Asia war in March.

The two reports converge on the core elements of the U.S.-sponsored framework agreement signed last month, which envisions the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as “pilot zones.” However, they also highlight significant friction points: Hezbollah’s repeated rejection of the agreement, and Israeli forces' firing near Lebanese troops during a recent deployment.

Key claims

Prime Minister Salam's commitment

During his visit to Zawtar al-Gharbiya on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated that Lebanon would continue mobilising its political and diplomatic efforts to secure a complete Israeli withdrawal from the south. He spoke after planting a Lebanese flag in the village, saying that in parallel with the army's deployment, the government would proceed with opening roads, removing rubble, and securing essential services, enabling people to return safely and with dignity to their homes.

The visit came a day after President Joseph Aoun met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, where he stressed the urgent need for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory.

The US-sponsored agreement

The framework agreement, negotiated in Washington in June, involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon's south, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in pilot zones. Hezbollah has repeatedly rejected the agreement and refuses to lay down its weapons.

Recent incidents

The Lebanese military said on Tuesday that Israeli forces opened fire near troops deploying at Zawtar al-Gharbiya. In response, the Israeli military said it had only fired “warning shots into the air” after Lebanese soldiers entered an area that was “not part of the pilot area.” The incident highlights the fragility of the implementation process.

Casualties and displacement

Lebanon says that more than 4,300 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion that followed Hezbollah’s rocket fire in March. The war caused widespread destruction, mainly in the south. According to the United Nations, more than 700,000 people have returned to their homes over the past few weeks, though the scale of destruction remains a major challenge.

Perspectives

The material presents several distinct viewpoints from named officials and institutions.

Lebanese government

Prime Minister Salam and President Aoun are pushing for a complete and urgent Israeli withdrawal, while stressing the importance of enabling residents to return safely. Their statements reflect a determination to restore Lebanese state authority in the south.

Hezbollah

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem described the direct negotiations as bringing “nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises” for Lebanon. In a televised address on Tuesday, he also criticised President Aoun, saying the president “has not acted as an arbiter, nor as a unifying figure, but has become biased and divisive.”

Israeli military

The Israeli military maintains that its forces only fired warning shots into the air during the incident at Zawtar al-Gharbiya, asserting that Lebanese troops had entered an area outside the agreed pilot zone.

United States

US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa warned that moving too quickly risks “jeopardising the very civilians this process is meant to protect.” Separately, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on X that the United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments as they carry the process forward, with the goal of delivering lasting security for both countries, eliminating security threats to Israel, and restoring Lebanese state authority throughout the south.

Italy

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged Lebanon and Israel to continue in a constructive spirit, identifying shared solutions that will allow for the full implementation of the framework agreement. His comments were reported on Monday, ahead of the Rome talks.