Beirut, Aug 2026 : Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has said that progress was made on border-related issues and the return of prisoners during the latest round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel held in Rome, while efforts continue to address unresolved security concerns.
Speaking during a Cabinet session on Friday, Aoun said the three-day talks covered four key issues — the ceasefire, demolition and bulldozing of houses, border arrangements, and the return of prisoners along with the identification of pilot areas, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency.
Aoun described the progress on the border and prisoner issues as “positive” and expressed hope that the discussions would soon translate into practical measures.
The Lebanese President said the US administration would work towards resolving the remaining issues concerning the ceasefire and pilot areas. He added that US General Joseph Clearfield was expected to arrive in Beirut shortly to follow up on the outstanding matters and help advance implementation.
The remarks came a day after Lebanese and Israeli officials concluded three days of negotiations in Rome aimed at strengthening security arrangements along the two countries’ border and implementing a framework agreement reached in Washington in late June, according to local media reports.
The latest discussions represented the seventh round of negotiations between the Lebanese and Israeli governments. The talks have faced opposition from Hezbollah, which has rejected the negotiations.
The Rome discussions are taking place against the backdrop of renewed military activity along the Lebanon-Israel border. Earlier on Thursday, United Nations officials warned of a sharp escalation in military activity between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said it had recorded 113 projectiles fired by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday, marking the highest daily number observed since June 21.
However, UNIFIL did not detect any projectile launches by Hezbollah during the same period, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said.
The UN peacekeeping force also reported significant Israeli aerial activity over southern Lebanon. On Wednesday, peacekeepers recorded 49 airspace violations, with the total duration of the overflights exceeding 131 hours.
According to Haq, the number of airspace violations and the cumulative duration of the overflights represented the highest levels recorded since June 23.
UNIFIL personnel also observed three airstrikes northwest of Al Mansuri during the same period, further highlighting the fragile security situation despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The maritime situation has also drawn attention. On Monday, UNIFIL observed Israeli military patrol boats crossing the Line of Buoys into Lebanese territorial waters before subsequently returning south, Haq said.
The latest developments underscore the difficult environment surrounding the Lebanon-Israel negotiations. While diplomatic efforts have produced some movement on border arrangements and prisoner issues, the continuing military activity presents a significant challenge to efforts aimed at consolidating a lasting ceasefire.
Lebanese officials are now expected to focus on translating the progress achieved in Rome into concrete measures, while US officials continue efforts to bridge differences over the remaining issues and prevent further escalation along the border.
(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
