Beirut / Stephanie Rady / Anadolu

The US Embassy in Beirut announced Wednesday evening that an agreement had been reached on a 'structure and guidelines' for implementing the Israeli withdrawal from two pilot areas in southern Lebanon, with implementation to begin in the coming days.

This came in a statement by the US Embassy as the second and final day of the Lebanese-Israeli talks hosted by the Italian capital Rome concluded.

The US Embassy said the talks concluded after two days of 'fruitful and positive' discussions.

It pointed out that 'an agreement was reached on the structure and guidelines of the pilot areas process, with final procedures to be completed and implementation to begin in the coming days.'

The embassy added that the next phase will see a transition to expanded technical talks focusing on implementing all provisions of the tripartite 'framework agreement,' with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

The 'framework agreement' signed between the two sides on June 26, 2026 stipulates a 'phased' Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, beginning with the application of a model in two pilot areas.

The formula did not set a timetable for the withdrawal, linking its completion to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the areas from which Israeli forces withdraw, along with the disarmament of armed groups, in reference to Hezbollah.

Earlier Wednesday, a US State Department official told Israeli Channel 13 that Washington, in coordination with Beirut and Tel Aviv, had reached an agreement on the outlines of a mechanism for the Israeli army's withdrawal from 'two pilot areas' in southern Lebanon, with implementation to begin in the next few days.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese source told Anadolu, preferring not to be named, that the implementation of the 'two pilot areas' plan would begin 'within days,' in response to a Lebanese request.

The source added that the Rome talks made progress and discussed in detail the mechanism for implementing the framework agreement and the timeline for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.

In contrast, the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that 'a third party will oversee the implementation of the pilot plan in southern Lebanon,' adding that it 'will not be the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL) nor the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.'

On June 26 last, Beirut and Tel Aviv, under US auspices, signed a 'framework formula' stipulating a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory, starting with two pilot (model) areas without naming them.

The agreement did not set a timetable for the withdrawal, linking it to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the areas from which the Israeli army withdraws, and the disarmament of armed groups, with special reference to Hezbollah.

For its part, the Lebanese National News Agency reported that the Lebanese-Israeli negotiations, which concluded in Rome, addressed a number of issues between the two sides, particularly concerning the two pilot areas.

Five rounds of negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv were previously held in Washington, leading to the signing of a 'framework formula' stipulating a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Lebanese territory.

Israel continues its aggression on Lebanon, which began on March 2, 2026, and has resulted in the deaths of 4,324 people and injuries to 12,223 others, as well as the displacement of over one million people, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

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

In addition to its occupation of Lebanese territory, Israel occupies Palestinian and Syrian territories and refuses to withdraw from them or to establish a Palestinian state.