BEIRUT / Stephanie Radhi / Anadolu

** US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa, after meeting Aoun:

- The military delegation's mission is to coordinate and determine the implementation mechanism on the ground, and in light of the results of the coordination meetings, the start date of implementation will be set.

- The transfer of the meeting between the Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations to Rome is due to technical reasons related to facilitating the movement of ambassadors and delegation members.

- The Rome meeting is of an organizational and executive nature regarding what was stated in the "Framework Format," especially with regard to forming specialized working groups to implement what was agreed upon.

US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa announced on Thursday that an American military delegation will arrive in Lebanon within days, in preparation for starting work in the pilot zones.

This came in remarks he made after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to a presidency statement.

Issa said that preparations are underway to implement what was agreed upon regarding the pilot zones.

On June 26 last, Beirut and Tel Aviv signed in Washington, under US auspices, a "Framework Agreement" stipulating a phased Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territories, starting with two pilot zones.

The agreement did not set a timeline for the withdrawal, linking it to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the areas from which withdrawal occurs, and disarming armed groups, with special reference to "Hezbollah."

Issa added that an American military delegation will arrive in Beirut within days to coordinate and determine the implementation mechanism on the ground regarding the pilot zones.

He continued that it is necessary to avoid any vacuum when Israeli forces withdraw from the specified area, and in light of the results of the coordination meetings, the start date of implementation on the ground will be set.

Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some for decades, others since the previous war between 2023 and 2024, while it advanced more than 10 kilometers during the current aggression.

After several rounds of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, the next round will be held in the Italian capital Rome on July 14 and 15 this year.

Issa explained that moving the meeting between the Lebanese, American, and Israeli delegations to Rome is due to technical reasons related to facilitating the movement of ambassadors and delegation members.

He added that the Rome meeting is organizational and executive in nature regarding what was stated in the "Framework Format," especially in terms of forming specialized working groups to implement the arrangements agreed upon in Washington, which may require legal or technical experts.

He stressed that in Rome, what was agreed upon in Washington will be completed, and several meetings will be held in the Italian capital or elsewhere to follow up on implementation, according to the phases that will be agreed upon.

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