US: Rome talks address Hezbollah disarmament and border zones

The US State Department said that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, currently underway in Rome, have addressed experimental zones and the disarmament of Hezbollah.

The department added that the talks also discussed Israeli redeployment in southern Lebanon, and are scheduled to continue until August 6.

Lebanese television, citing presidential officials, reported that Israel has, for the first time, backed down from its previous refusal to discuss the issue of demarcating the land border with Lebanon.

The Lebanese negotiating delegation in Rome insisted on a full ceasefire and an end to Israeli attacks, calling for these demands to be conveyed to the Israeli political leadership to secure formal and political guarantees for their implementation.