Sanaa: The Israeli army sustained its assault on southern Lebanon on Wednesday, executing a series of explosions in border towns as the sixth round of Rome negotiations between Lebanon and Israel proceeded into its second day.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli forces initiated a significant explosion around 3 am (0000GMT) in the eastern neighborhood of Khiam in the Marjayoun district. This was followed by another blast later in the morning in the town of Qantara within the same district, as reported by Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). The agency also detailed that Israeli forces conducted wide-scale explosions targeting valleys and residences in Beit Yahoun, located in the Bint Jbeil district.
The explosions were accompanied by the bulldozing of roads by Israeli forces, leading from Bint Jbeil city to the border town of Maroun al-Ras. In a separate incident, Israeli forces fired at residents attempting to access their orchards near Majdal Zoun and Mansouri towns in southern Lebanon, though no injuries were reported. Additionally, Israeli drones persisted in flying over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
This heightened military activity coincided with the sixth round of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which resumed in Rome under the auspices of the United States. The Italian capital has been the venue for these direct talks since Tuesday, following five rounds held in Washington, DC, culminating in the signing of a framework agreement.
The framework agreement outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territories, beginning with two 'pilot areas.' However, it does not establish a specific timeline for withdrawal and ties the process to the Lebanese army assuming full security responsibility in the vacated areas and the disarmament of non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah.
The Rome negotiations occur against a backdrop of continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have resulted in at least 4,324 fatalities, 12,223 injuries, and the displacement of over 1 million people since March 2, as per official Lebanese figures. Israel maintains occupation of several areas in southern Lebanon, some of which have been under its control for decades, while others were seized during the 2023-24 conflict.