Lebanon and Israel hold new round of direct talks in Rome to discuss Hezbollah disarming

This week's negotiations are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the Middle East war in March with rocket fire at Israel in support of its backer Iran.

They are the seventh in a series of Washington-mediated discussions since Hezbollah fired at Israel.

The latest talks come as Israel continues to occupy and strike southern Lebanon.

Lebanon and Israel hold new round of direct talks in Rome Lebanon and Israel have begun a new round of US-sponsored direct talks in Rome, as Beirut seeks Israel's withdrawal from the south of the country. At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a framework deal that involved the di

Qassem said that the talks would bring "nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises" for Lebanon.

The US, Israel and Lebanon have sent expanded delegations to the talks, set to continue for three days and expected to focus on security arrangements, border issues and reconstruction.

Hezbollah disarmament, pilot zones: Next round of Israel-Lebanon talks underway  Haaretz

The confrontation, over a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, challenged a fragile cease-fire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon and that an Israeli soldier was injured there despite a ceasefire. The military said it identified several Hezbollah fighters overnight inside what Israel has labelled a “security zone” in southern Lebanon which its forces