Lebanese-Israeli Agreement to Implement the Trial Area Within Days

Sada News - The American embassy in Beirut announced, on Wednesday evening, the conclusion of talks between Lebanon and Israel in Rome, which lasted for two days, indicating that they were fruitful and positive.

The embassy, in a statement, indicated that the participants agreed on the structure and guidelines for the trial area, and that final procedures will be completed and implementation will begin in the coming days.

It added that "the next phase will witness the launch of extensive technical talks focusing on implementing all items of the tripartite framework, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Lebanon and Israel."

Lebanese channel Al-Jadeed reported that Ambassador Simon Karam will head the upcoming meetings, even if they have a military-security nature.

Meanwhile, the Israeli newspaper Maariv quoted an Israeli official saying that an agreement has been reached with Lebanon regarding the two trial areas.

He added: "The two trial areas will serve as a test of the capabilities of the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah."

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a phone call between them on Thursday, to start withdrawing Israeli forces from Syrian territories, as well as to proceed with redeployment operations in Lebanon, according to American and Israeli officials.

An American official told Axios that Trump informed Netanyahu that the Israeli military presence in Syria escalates tensions and could lead to escalation, adding that he told him: "They do not want your presence there. You should redeploy." The official stated that the same position applies to Lebanon.

For his part, the Israeli Prime Minister's office stated that Netanyahu emphasized during the call the "necessity of having security areas along the borders of Israel."

The call came a day after a meeting between Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.

According to American officials, the Trump administration attempted in recent months to reach a new security agreement between Israel and Syria, which includes a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from areas it has controlled since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, but concluded that Netanyahu was not willing to offer the required concessions.

Southern Syria has witnessed in recent weeks protests and clashes between Syrian civilians and Israeli forces in protest against the continued military presence.