US cites progress in Lebanon and Israel talks

Washington [US] / Rome [Italy], August 7: The US State Department said on Thursday that both sides have made progress in negotiations between Lebanon and Israel.
Talks in Rome at a technical and expert level have been productive, a State Department spokesman said, adding that the parties are "now significantly closer" to agreeing on what needs to be done to continue and expand the so-called pilot zones.
Israel has stationed troops in southern Lebanon and is taking action there against the Iran-backed Hezbollah.
In earlier rounds of talks, the two neighbouring countries had agreed that in the pilot zones, the Lebanese Armed Forces - which are not a party to the conflict - would take control and disarm the militia, while the Israeli army would gradually withdraw from the area.
Last month, the first pilot zones were established in the three southern Lebanese towns of Frun, Srifa and Sautar al-Gharbija. Representatives from Lebanon and Israel met in the Italian capital from Tuesday to Thursday to discuss the further implementation of their security agreement.
Source: Qatar Tribune