Lebanon confirms it will attend Rome talks with Israel

Lebanon will take part in talks with Israel scheduled for next week in Rome, a Lebanese official said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The announcement came as a US military delegation began talks in Beirut the same day with the Lebanese army on implementing Israel's withdrawal from one of two "pilot zones" in the south of the country.

The talks, mediated by Washington, are aimed at translating a framework agreement signed on June 26 into concrete steps on the ground, including the handover of the pilot zones to the long-sidelined Lebanese army once Israeli forces withdraw.

Lebanon and Israel, which have no diplomatic relations, have held several rounds of indirect negotiations since the war began, with the Rome meeting set to be the latest chapter in that process.