Lebanon says progress made with Israel on border, prisoner issues in Rome talks
Beirut, Aug 8
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that progress had been made on border issues and the return of prisoners during the latest negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome.
Speaking at a cabinet session on Friday (local time), Aoun said the Rome talks addressed four main issues: a ceasefire, the demolition and bulldozing of houses, the border, and the return of prisoners and the identification of pilot areas, according to a statement released by the Lebanese presidency.
Aoun said "positive progress" had been made on the border and prisoners' issues, expressing hope that practical steps would emerge soon, the statement said.
He said the US administration would work to address the remaining issues of a ceasefire and pilot areas, adding that US General Joseph Clearfield would arrive in Beirut soon to follow up on these matters, reports Xinhua news agency.
The remarks came a day after Israeli and Lebanese officials finished three days of negotiations in Rome aimed at advancing security arrangements along their border and implementing a framework agreement reached in Washington in late June, local media reported.
The talks, opposed by Hezbollah, are the seventh round of negotiations between the two governments.
Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday, UN officials announced that UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon reported the sharpest escalation in military activity between Israel and Hezbollah since late June, when a US-Israel-Lebanon framework agreement was signed.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recorded 113 projectiles fired by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday, the highest daily figure observed since June 21.
UNIFIL did not detect any projectile launches by Hezbollah during the same period, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
UNIFIL also recorded significant aerial activity. On Wednesday, peacekeepers recorded 49 airspace violations, with a cumulative overflight time exceeding 131 hours, the highest level since June 23. They also observed three airstrikes northwest of Al Mansuri, said the spokesperson.
At sea, on Monday, UNIFIL observed IDF patrol boats crossing the Line of Buoys into Lebanese territorial waters before returning south, said Haq.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The situation in southern Lebanon is deeply concerning. UNIFIL reporting 113 projectiles fired in a single day shows how fragile the ceasefire really is. Just because Hezbollah didn't return fire that day doesn't mean there's no tension. The border issues can't be solved without addressing the root causes.
Rome talks are the seventh round, and still no concrete ceasefire? As an Indian watching this, I feel like the US is just playing referee without actually controlling the game. Lebanon's sovereignty needs to be respected, and prisoners should be returned without conditions.
It's heartening to hear that progress is being made on the border and prisoner issues. The demolition of houses is such a humanitarian tragedy. My heart goes out to the families in southern Lebanon. World powers should remember that real people's lives are at stake here, not just political posturing. 🕊️
As someone who follows West Asia closely, I'm cautiously optimistic. The framework agreement in Washington was a good start, but the actual implementation is what matters. Israel's continued military activity, like those 49 airspace violations UNIFIL recorded, undermines the trust-building process. Both sides need to show real commitment.
Interesting diplomatic development. The fact that Hezbollah opposes these talks is a major sticking point. From a neutral observer's perspective, the US brokering this while Israel continues military operations seems counterproductive. Real peace requires consistency, not just dialogue rounds in Rome.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.