A video lasting 27 minutes and 55 seconds.

The conflict between Israel and Lebanon has deep roots, with Hezbollah's military role a persistent sticking point.

Another round of discussions between Israel and Lebanon has been held, this time in Italy.

It follows a US-brokered agreement last month, that calls for the disarming of Hezbollah and a phased-out Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

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Since March, the Israeli military has killed more than 4,000 Lebanese and displaced more than 1 million. It’s occupying 600km² in southern Lebanon.

The talks in Rome were meant to advance the agreement, with Lebanon insisting Israeli troops withdraw and Israel insisting Hezbollah lay down its weapons.

However, can the Lebanese army effectively assert control on the ground?

And with Hezbollah rejecting the deal, do the talks serve any purpose?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

Ali Rizk – Security affairs analyst specialising in US foreign policy and counterterrorism

Adolfo Franco – US Republican strategist and foreign policy analyst

Yossi Mekelberg – Senior Consulting Fellow at Chatham House

Published On 15 Jul 202615 Jul 2026

The talks' ultimate success depends on overcoming mutual distrust. Without Hezbollah's buy-in, the US-brokered framework risks collapse. The region watches closely as the ceasefire deadline approaches.