Israeli blasts rock southern Lebanon as Rome talks enter second day

“Our goals are clear, and we will not be lenient when it comes to Lebanon’s rights,” he said.

Aoun said disagreement is legitimate but conflict is not, adding that dialogue among Lebanese should serve the national interest rather than personal agendas.

“Hatred does not build a state or institutions. It destroys,” he said.

“The road is not paved and there are difficulties, but hope is great for achieving results that end the bloodbath,” he added.

Rome has been hosting a sixth round of direct negotiations since Tuesday, following five rounds in Washington, DC, that resulted in the signing of a framework agreement.

The framework deal provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory beginning with two “pilot areas.”

Earlier, a US State Department spokesperson also confirmed that the talks in Rome were “productive and held in a positive atmosphere.”

The agreement does not set a timetable for the withdrawal and links it to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in areas vacated by Israeli forces and the disarmament of non-state armed groups, with specific reference to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

The Rome talks come as Israel continues attacks in Lebanon, which have killed at least 4,324 people, injured 12,223, and displaced more than 1 million since March 2, according to official Lebanese figures.​​​​​​​ Israel continues to occupy areas in southern Lebanon, some held for decades and others seized during the 2023-24 war.