Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said efforts are underway to end the war with Israel, secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces and deploy the Lebanese Army along the country's southern border, allowing displaced residents of villages and towns to return to their homes. File Photo by Chema Moya/EPA
BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 15 (UPI) -- Lebanon and Israel concluded two days of U.S.-brokered negotiations in Rome on Wednesday, reaching an agreement on a process to be finalized for implementing the first pilot zones in southern Lebanon and an Israeli withdrawal in the coming days.
A U.S. official said in a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon that the Rome talks -- the sixth round of direct negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli negotiating teams -- were "productive and positive."
The official reported an agreement on "the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the coming days" as part the framework agreement reached by the Lebanese and Israeli negotiating teams June 26.
The preliminary deal provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied parts of southern Lebanon to allow the Lebanese Army to deploy, "restore effective sovereign authority," disarm and prevent Hezbollah from returning to areas evacuated by Israel.
