Israel has effectively backtracked on its previous promise to withdraw from Lebanon, throwing peace negotiations resumed under U.S. mediation back into a deadlock.

According to AFP on the 6th local time, Israel stated during the 7th round of negotiations that it will not withdraw from the area until the Lebanese Armed Forces take full control of so-called "pilot zones."

The negotiations began on the 4th in Rome, Italy, with the goal of ending hostilities between Israel and the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon under U.S. mediation.

In June, Israel and Lebanon reached a basic agreement centered on the disarmament of Hezbollah, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces that entered southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese military to the region, deciding to begin implementation in two pilot zones.

A Lebanese source speaking on the condition of anonymity said that the talks "did not yield conclusive results regarding the pilot zones."

On July 21, the Lebanese military began deploying to a village in the south where Israeli forces control the outskirts.

This location is one of the first two pilot zones, and the Lebanese military has also reinforced its troops in the second zone.

The Lebanese source conveyed, "Lebanon wants to expand the implementation [of the agreement] to new areas, but Israel's position is that it must verify whether the agreement has been properly implemented in the first two zones before moving to the next stage."

An Israeli official stated that the pilot zones can only be expanded after the Israeli government verifies the results, adding, "It has only been two weeks since the pilot operation started, so it is still too early to evaluate the results."

A U.S. official mediating the talks expressed optimism, saying, "The differences in positions between the two sides have narrowed significantly regarding what needs to be done to advance and expand the pilot zone procedures."

The operation of the pilot zones serves as the first test of the basic agreement signed by both sides.

Currently, Hezbollah continues to refuse direct negotiations with Israel and has shown little progress in disarming.

On the day of the negotiations, the Israeli military launched airstrikes on southern Lebanon in retaliation for the deaths of two of its soldiers.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)