Lebanon's peacekeeping forces were at the centre of discussions between Lebanese president Joseph Aoun and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, as he concluded his two-day visit to Rome.Mr Aoun also met with his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, who holds a largely institutional and constitutional role.On a post on X, Mr Aoun declared he "thanked Prime Minister Meloni for the support Italy provides to Lebanon at various levels. They also discussed the general situation in Lebanon, particularly in the south, in light of the continuing Israeli attacks and the need to pressure Israel to comply with the implementation of the framework agreement reached during the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington."The talks also included discussions about "Italy’s role in consolidating security and stability in the south" and "the period following the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil)".Lebanon’s Ambassador to Italy Carla Jazaar participated in both meetings.Mr Aoun also met Pope Leo XIV on Thursday and thanked him for his efforts to support Lebanon in seeking an end to the Israeli occupation and attacks on its territory. In a post on X, Mr Aoun called on the Pope to "continue supporting Lebanon’s demands and urged the Vatican to maintain its diplomatic efforts in international forums to help secure them".Lebanon and Israel have engaged in seven rounds of direct talks, a first in decades, with some held at the US embassy in Rome. The talks have focused on the creation of so-called “pilot zones” – designated areas in which Israeli forces would withdraw, the Lebanese army would assume control and Hezbollah would disarm. So far, Israel has withdrawn from only two pilot zones.Mr Aoun’s meetings in Rome come as Lebanon seeks to maintain international support for the implementation while negotiations continue. Although the next round of talks is meant to take place in September, a Lebanese political source said Israel has yet to confirm the dates.Turning the Unifil pageUnifil has been operating at the southern border of Lebanon since 1978, with a annually renewed mandate set to expire in December 2026. Italy - which has the biggest contingent of EU soldiers - and France are planning to establish another force with certain European countries, backed by NATO, to take over Unifil's role. The US and Israel have opposed the plan, putting forward a US-led force. Joseph Aoun wishes to push forward the force working alongside the LAF.Unifil is mandated to monitor the cessation of hostilities and violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, support the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in southern Lebanon and assist in establishing an area between the Blue Line and the Litani River free of armed personnel, weapons and military assets other than those belonging to the Lebanese state or Unifil. It is also tasked with facilitating humanitarian access and supporting efforts to ensure the security and freedom of movement of UN personnel.The force's mandate was renewed one last time in 2025, with a scheduled end of operations on December 31, 2026, and withdrawal throughout 2027. The decision reflected a push, particularly from the US, to end what Washington viewed as an open-ended peacekeeping mission and have the Lebanese state assume sole responsibility for security in southern Lebanon. Italy, alongside other EU nations such as France, had warned that a premature withdrawal would create a security vacuum, with the LAF incapable of filling the gap.Pressure on the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah and take control of the southern region is mounting. Washington is pushing Beirut to implement a plan to put all weapons under state control and disarm Hezbollah. The June 26 US-brokered framework links Hezbollah's disarmament to the broader security arrangement and Israeli withdrawal. Israel refuses to withdraw from southern Lebanon until the group is disarmed, while its forces continue to strike the area daily.