Israel and Lebanon, currently engaged in ceasefire negotiations mediated by the United States, commenced their 7th round of talks in Rome, Italy, on the 4th (local time), focusing on agendas such as the additional establishment of a "pilot zone" in southern Lebanon.

U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced the negotiations via X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The United States fully supports both governments in eliminating security threats against Israel, restoring sovereignty in southern Lebanon, and providing lasting security guarantees for both countries."

According to AFP, motorcades carrying delegations from both countries arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Rome this morning.

These negotiations are scheduled to run through the 6th.

Israel launched large-scale airstrikes and a ground invasion in southern Lebanon under the pretext of responding to attacks by the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, resulting in over 4,300 deaths.

Subsequently, through U.S. mediation, Israel met with the Lebanese government in Washington, D.C., and agreed in June on a framework agreement encompassing the disarmament of Hezbollah, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces within a "pilot zone" established in the withdrawn areas.

Al Jazeera reported that the key issue of the three-day 7th round of talks will be setting up additional pilot zones in southern Lebanon and transferring control of these areas to the Lebanese military.

Citing a Lebanese official, it added that the additional pilot zones would likely be Bint Jbeil or Khiam, located south of the Litani River in the south.

Although both governments are holding multiple rounds of additional talks, it remains uncertain whether the gunfire will actually subside, as Israel strongly insists on Hezbollah's complete disarmament as a condition for the agreement, while Hezbollah, the target of Israeli attacks, faces fierce opposition.

Israel condemned an apparent violation of the ceasefire agreement on July 29, stating that an Israeli military unmanned engineering vehicle was attacked by a Hezbollah suicide drone in southern Lebanon.

Prior to the start of the negotiations that day, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem publicly criticized the talks, claiming they would only bring "shame, humiliation, and successive concessions" to Lebanon.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)