A US official said that the United States has moved to the implementation phase of the framework governing understandings between Lebanon and Israel.

The official explained in statements to Sky News Arabia that the upcoming Rome meetings will be closed and "will represent the beginning of the transition from political understandings to field implementation."

This comes as the Italian capital prepares to host a new round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on July 15-16 with US mediation, as part of following up on the implementation of the framework agreement that was announced in late June.

The US official added that "the Rome meetings will allow the two governments to refer the files to technical teams, which will handle all issues included in the framework, in preparation for implementing its provisions on the ground."

He explained that the first "pilot area" will be implemented within days, where the Israeli army will withdraw and be replaced by the Lebanese army, while planning work and identifying additional pilot areas continue.

The official pointed out that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) is coordinating with both Lebanon and Israel to push forward the implementation steps of the agreement.

He affirmed that Washington will soon begin engaging with its international partners to support the Lebanese government in effectively asserting its sovereignty within these areas, ultimately enhancing state sovereignty more broadly across the country.

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Lebanon and Israel: The Pilot Areas, the Upcoming Test

What does the agreement include?

The framework agreement stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas in southern Lebanon, in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army in the evacuated positions, within broader security arrangements supervised by the United States, while the pilot areas constitute the first phase to test implementation mechanisms before expanding them to other areas.

The agreement does not include a binding timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel insists it will not withdraw from the security zone adjacent to its border until arrangements concerning the disarmament of Hezbollah are implemented, whereas Lebanon stresses the need to cement the ceasefire and the Israeli withdrawal from the agreed-upon areas.

The Lebanese presidency announced that President Joseph Aoun received confirmation from US Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa that a US military delegation would arrive in Lebanon within days to oversee preparations for starting the implementation of pilot areas and coordinate with both sides to establish the necessary field mechanisms, with emphasis on ensuring no security vacuum occurs after any Israeli withdrawal.

These developments come days before the Rome round and ahead of an upcoming trip by Aoun to Washington in the last week of July, at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, a visit expected to address the implementation track of the agreement, the future of security arrangements on the Lebanese-Israeli border, and international support for Lebanese state institutions.

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