Israel-Lebanon talks begin in Rome on disarming Hezbollah

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Israel, Lebanon, and the United States have begun talks in Rome to determine who will verify the clearance of Hezbollah operatives and weapons from territories accessed by the Lebanese Armed Forces. The parties are exploring alternatives to Israeli-only verification and UNIFIL’s involvement, with Italy emerging as a possible candidate, as they aim to finalize a security framework before UNIFIL’s mandate ends this year.

A new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States, began on Tuesday in Rome and are scheduled to continue through Thursday. The discussions center on determining which party or parties will be responsible for verifying that territories accessed by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) under the initial phase of Hezbollah’s disarmament are free of the group’s operatives and weaponry.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Italy may be considered as a potential verifier in this security process. The negotiations come amid ongoing debate over how to ensure the effective disarmament of Hezbollah and restore full Lebanese state authority in southern Lebanon.

The US State Department confirmed the talks are underway, with spokesperson Tommy Pigott stating that Washington remains committed to supporting both Israel and Lebanon in a manner that promotes lasting security, eliminates threats to Israel, and reinforces Lebanese government control throughout the south.

On Tuesday, Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal held discussions in Rome with Lieutenant General Giovanni Maria Iannucci, commander of Italy’s Joint Operations Command. The talks focused on the overall security situation, recent developments, challenges facing the Lebanese Army, and future options following the end of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) current mission.

At the start of negotiations, Israel had maintained that it should be the sole party authorized to enter areas secured by the Lebanese Armed Forces to provide final confirmation that they were clear of Hezbollah presence. However, facing strong opposition from the Lebanese government, officials from Israel, Lebanon, and the US are now exploring alternative arrangements to identify which country or countries could undertake verification duties.

Both Israel and the United States are opposed to extending UNIFIL’s mandate beyond its scheduled expiration at the end of this year. They reject the notion that the multinational peacekeeping force should be responsible for conducting the final verification on the ground, a position that has influenced the ongoing talks.

No definitive decision has yet been reached, and several options remain under consideration as the parties work to finalize a framework that addresses security concerns and the enforcement of Hezbollah’s disarmament in southern Lebanon.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.