Sources in the Lebanese presidential palace told the Lebanese television channel MTV that the second day of negotiations in Rome witnessed more significant progress, and the discussions became practical and detailed regarding the implementation mechanisms of the framework agreement.
According to the sources, the parties discussed the timeline for the start of the withdrawal from the pilot areas in southern Lebanon. The officials claimed that all preparations are being made so that the withdrawal will begin in the upcoming days or even within hours. They added that an announcement is expected to define the exact date and expressed hope that the process would not be delayed beyond the weekend.
According to the sources, further discussions are expected later to establish a timetable for Israeli withdrawals from additional areas beyond the pilot zones. Regarding the verification mechanism to ensure that the areas are demilitarized of weapons belonging to Hezbollah, the sources said that the information would be passed to a third party.
"We are open to the American vision, and we have a natural tendency to prefer that UN bodies like UNIFIL handle the verification. Several proposals are being discussed," the officials said.
Furthermore, sources in the palace of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized, "Any meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu is something that is flatly rejected. Aoun's visit to Washington will include a meeting with Trump and perhaps with several senior officials. The visit will be very quick."
US official: Israel withdraws from parts of security zone in Lebanon
The official described the move as "a gesture of goodwill" toward the Lebanese government. Israel has denied the report, while the IDF stresses: We were not instructed to withdraw.
A US State Department official told Reuters that Israel had withdrawn from parts of the security zone in southern Lebanon. According to the official, the move was "a gesture of goodwill" toward the Lebanese government.
Israel has yet to issue an official response to the report, but a senior Israeli security official denied it in a conversation with Reuters, making clear that Israel's policy is clear: The IDFwill not withdraw from the buffer zone, and its forces are still enforcing control of the area against anyone who approaches it, including Lebanese Army soldiers. Troops on the ground told Israel Hayom, "We have not received any instruction to move from the area where we are stationed."
Later, sources told Al-Arabiya that Lebanon and Israel had reached an agreement in principle on the pilot areas for withdrawal. According to the sources, a declaration of intent is expected to be published after the two sides reach an agreed-upon text. However, a Lebanese military official briefed that so far, no withdrawal of IDF troops had taken place, and they remain deployed in areas captured in southern Lebanon.
Several days ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that even amid contacts between Israel and Lebanon in Washington, "We will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as necessary to protect our dear residents of the north and all citizens of the state. As prime minister of Israel, I insist on this firmly, and nothing will change that," he said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz also declared Wednesday, "Israel will not withdraw from Lebanon, even if the Americans demand it." Speaking at the Muni Expo 2026 local government conference, Katz added that "the soldiers have full freedom of action to defend themselves."
Yashar! chairman and former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot also addressed the diplomatic sensitivity at the conference, saying, "We have reached a situation in which there has been no approval to blow up tunnels in recent days. The president of the US is asking the president of Syria to deal with Hezbollah. There has never been anything like this."
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