Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has expressed cautious optimism following the seventh round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel held in Rome this week. During a cabinet meeting Friday, Aoun reported that discussions addressed multiple contentious issues, including ceasefire terms, border demarcation, prisoner exchanges, and the establishment of pilot zones. The president indicated that both sides have achieved meaningful progress on border matters and prisoner-related negotiations, signaling hope that concrete implementation steps could materialize soon.
The Lebanese government’s positive assessment aligns with statements from the United States State Department, which characterized the talks as productive and suggested the two nations are drawing closer to an agreement on expanding pilot zones. Aoun also referenced recent meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing that the American administration grasps Lebanon’s circumstances and concerns.
Despite diplomatic progress, conditions on the ground tell a different story. Israeli military operations continued on Friday, with multiple strikes reported across southern Lebanon, including artillery fire on Meiss el-Jabal and drone operations near Beirut. Israeli forces also targeted infrastructure workers in Bint Jbeil and issued forced displacement orders for al-Mansouri. A Lebanese soldier sustained minor injuries during the operations. Displaced residents have grown increasingly frustrated, citing Israeli violations of a June framework agreement that was meant to establish a ceasefire.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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