ByAMICHAI STEIN, REUTERS
Updated:

The latest round of US-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon began on Tuesday in Rome and will continue through Thursday.

The discussions concern which country, or countries, will be responsible for verifying that areas entered by the Lebanese Armed Forces under the pilot phase of Hezbollah’s disarmament are free of both Hezbollah operatives and the group’s weapons, three sources familiar with the talks have told The Jerusalem Post.

Italy might be one of the countries, the sources said.

The talks were under way, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

“The United States remains fully committed to supporting both governments as they carry this process forward in a manner that delivers lasting security for both countries, eliminates security threats to Israel, and restores Lebanese state authority throughout the south,” he wrote on X/Twitter.

Lebanese army officers on a military vehicle drive in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, a village in southern Lebanon, following the deployment of Lebanese soldiers in one of three pilot zones after the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered plan, July 26, 2026.
Lebanese army officers on a military vehicle drive in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, a village in southern Lebanon, following the deployment of Lebanese soldiers in one of three pilot zones after the withdrawal of Israeli forces under a US-brokered plan, July 26, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/ZOHRA BENSEMRA)

On Tuesday, Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal met with the commander of Italy’s Joint Operations Command, Lt.-Gen. Giovanni Maria Iannucci. They discussed “the overall situation, recent developments, ways to support the Lebanese Army in light of the challenges it faces, and the available options for the period following the end of UNIFIL’s mission,” the Lebanese Army said.

Who will verify Hezbollah disarmament without UNIFIL?

At the outset of the negotiations, Israel insisted that it should be the party authorized to enter areas secured by the Lebanese Armed Forces so that it can provide the final confirmation they had been cleared of Hezbollah’s presence.

Following strong opposition from the Lebanese government, however, Israeli, Lebanese, and US officials began discussing which country, or countries, could verify that the areas are free of Hezbollah personnel and weapons.

Israel and the US are firmly opposed to extending the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which is set to expire at the end of this year. They do not want the multinational peacekeeping force to be responsible for conducting the final verification on the ground.

No final decision has been made, and several alternatives remain under consideration, a source familiar with the matter told the Post.