Lebanon and Israel Hold 7th Round of Rome Talks — No Further Withdrawal Agreed, Israel Strikes Mid-Talks

August 4-6, 2026 — Lebanon and Israel held a three-day, seventh round of US-brokered Rome talks (Lebanon led by Simon Karam; Israel by Amb. Yechiel Leiter; roughly 15 US officials present), covering pilot-zone expansion (Froun, Srifa, Bint Jbeil), Ali Taher Hill, border and prisoner issues, and the 2022 maritime deal. The talks ended split, with no agreement on further Israeli withdrawal. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem denounced the round as 'humiliation.' Israel struck Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon on August 5, during the talks, underscoring the gap between the diplomatic and military tracks.