Israel Freezes Lebanon Operations Ahead of Rome Peace Talks

The Cabinet of Israel ordered the Israel Defense Forces to freeze sensitive or unusual operations in southern Lebanon following a request from the United States. The directive aims to prevent Israel from escalating current tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Despite this freeze, the Israeli military conducted extensive shelling in Deir Seryan and demolitions in Khiam on July 10 and 11.

Israeli forces are preparing to withdraw from two pilot areas within the southern Lebanon security zone starting as early as next week. This movement follows a framework agreement signed in Washington on June 26, which mandates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory. A U.S. military delegation arrived in Beirut on Saturday to coordinate the transition, with U.S. Central Command managing the process as the Lebanese army prepares to assume security responsibility in the vacated zones.

These developments precede a sixth round of U.S.-sponsored negotiations scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Rome. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Yechiel Leiter is expected to lead the Israeli delegation. However, the agreement faces significant hurdles: Hezbollah has rejected the disarmament provisions, and Lebanese officials have conditioned their participation in the Rome talks on the successful evacuation of the first two pilot zones. Israeli officials maintain that forces will continue operating within a 10-kilometer security zone as long as Hezbollah remains armed.