Amid Ali Taher Escalation, Lebanon Seeks to Postpone Talks With Israel

Lebanon requested the postponement of the round of negotiations with Israel that had been scheduled to take place in Rome this week, against the backdrop of IDF activity on the Ali Taher Ridge in southern Lebanon. The report was published Tuesday morning by Kan News on Reshet Bet, citing sources.

Despite the delay, contacts between the sides have not come to a complete halt. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel Leiter, is expected to meet this week with his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamada, at U.S. State Department headquarters.

Last week, the website "Axios" reported that the round of talks, which had been expected to resume this week, was postponed. According to reports, one of the central aims of the talks was to advance the creation of a force that would ensure that pilot areas in southern Lebanon had indeed been cleared of Hezbollah’s presence and infrastructure.

Disputes remain over the nature of the mechanism to be established. Israel opposes the involvement of France and Britain in the monitoring force, while the U.S. seeks to expand the withdrawal zones that would be handed over to the Lebanese Army.

Meanwhile, the IDF withdrew from the Ali Taher Ridge over the past day after completing the destruction of Hezbollah’s underground complex in the area. The forces are regrouping along the Yellow Line, while the continuation of their deployment in the sector is being reviewed. Alongside the withdrawal from the ridge, it was decided at this stage not to leave Beaufort Castle.