After months of stalled diplomacy, Lebanese and Israeli delegations resumed negotiations in Rome on Tuesday, with Beirut insisting on an immediate Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon before any further discussions. The two-day meeting at the U.S. embassy marks the latest attempt to implement a framework agreement aimed at ending the war that erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in March. Main Developments President Joseph Aoun instructed Lebanon's delegation to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from two designated areas in southern Lebanon before engaging in any further discussions with the Israeli side, according to the Lebanese presidency. The talks follow a June 26 meeting in Washington that produced an agreement calling for an end to hostilities, disarmament of armed groups—apparently referencing Hezbollah—deployment of Lebanese troops to the south, and a progressive Israeli withdrawal. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed Monday that Italy offered to host the negotiations, saying, "We are also very pleased that Rome can serve as the venue for these meetings. In this way, our capital becomes a capital of peace." One Lebanese official noted that moving the talks to Rome would make it easier for both delegations to consult their governments for guidance during negotiations. Read also: DRC Healthcare Workers Strike Over Unpaid Wages During Ebola Crisis Background The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah reignited on March 2 amid a broader regional escalation, with U.S.-led diplomacy advancing despite strong objections from the Iran-aligned group. In mid-June, the United States and Iran reached a separate deal agreeing that fighting would stop on all fronts, including Israel's war on Lebanon. However, Israel views its conflict with Hezbollah as a distinct national security matter and has continued military operations. Israeli forces currently occupy what they describe as a "buffer zone" approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) into Lebanese territory along the entire border. Israeli officials justify the occupation as necessary to protect northern communities from Hezbollah attacks. Meanwhile, Israel's military has forced local Lebanese populations from their homes and conducted controlled explosions of entire villages, claiming it is destroying Hezbollah infrastructure including underground tunnels. Hezbollah has rejected both the June 26 agreement and efforts to disarm it. Israel has stated its troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed. The June 26 accord identified two zones as a starting point for a "pilot zone" project under which Hezbollah would disarm, Israeli forces would withdraw, and Lebanese troops would deploy area by area. Why It Matters The human toll has been devastating: more than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed and over one million displaced since March, according to Lebanon's health ministry. On the Israeli side, at least 32 soldiers and four civilians have been killed by Hezbollah, most in southern Lebanon. The ongoing occupation and continued Israeli attacks have prevented displaced civilians from returning home and undermined the fragile ceasefire framework. Success or failure of the Rome talks will determine whether the U.S.-brokered framework can actually halt hostilities or whether the region slides back into full-scale war. The dispute over disarmament remains a central obstacle: Hezbollah's refusal to disarm clashes directly with Israel's insistence on maintaining a buffer zone as long as the group remains armed. What's Next Lebanon's delegation will seek a gradual, sequential withdrawal of Israeli troops "one zone after another," according to one Lebanese official. A U.S. official confirmed last week that CENTCOM is coordinating with both Lebanon and Israel to launch the pilot zones, and a U.S. military delegation visited Lebanon over the weekend to discuss implementation details with the Lebanese army. Aoun expressed hope that the Rome meeting would yield "tangible and practical steps on the ground" to implement the agreement, specifically an Israeli troop pull-out enabling the Lebanese army to deploy southward. Whether Hezbollah will accept any phased disarmament plan—and whether Israel will actually withdraw without guarantees—remains the core unresolved question.