00:02Delegations from Lebanon and Israel began a new round of direct talks in Rome on Tuesday
00:07to discuss Israel's phased withdrawal from the country's south and Hezbollah's disarmament.
00:13This week's negotiations are the seventh round of Washington-mediated talks since fighting started
00:18between Israel and the Lebanese militant group as part of the wider Middle East war with Iran.
00:23At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon agreed to a framework deal that
00:29involves the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon's
00:34south, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region starting in test areas known as pilot zones.
00:41Hezbollah has not taken part in the talks and has opposed the framework deal.
00:46Observers say Israel's commitment to withdraw will also be tested when pilot zones are selected in
00:51areas fully under its occupation. Violence in Lebanon has decreased since the Lebanon-Israel deal,
00:58but Lebanon continues to report intermittent Israeli strikes and shelling as well as
01:03detonations and demolitions in southern villages.
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