Lebanon-Israel Peace Talks Reach Deadlock Over Hezbollah Disarmament

Direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials have reached a deadlock after seven rounds of talks aimed at ending the war. The discussions, which began in April, proposed a phased arrangement where Israel would withdraw from occupied areas of southern Lebanon as the Lebanese Army moved in to secure the territory and exclude Hezbollah.

Israel has now halted the rollout of this plan, claiming the Lebanese Army's efforts are insufficient. Israeli officials insist their forces will remain in the region until Hezbollah is disarmed. Hezbollah has denounced the talks and refuses to surrender its weapons until Israeli forces complete their withdrawal.

The stalemate is a significant setback for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who sought to restore the state's monopoly on arms and curtail the political influence of the Iran-backed militant group. Despite a preliminary deal signed between the United States and Iran in June to suspend their conflict and halt fighting in Lebanon, the Lebanese government has struggled to assert authority over Hezbollah, which continues to fire on Israeli forces.