Israel and Lebanon are set to resume talks in Rome, with the next round expected to center on whether fighting can be halted and what conditions each side is prepared to accept. A report cited by Asharq Al-Awsat said Lebanon's delegation is likely to press for a full ceasefire.
At the same time, Israel is said to be entering the discussions with a clear red line. According to the report and its account of the Israeli position, Jerusalem has warned that it could move to seize a significant Hezbollah military compound if the group does not leave the area.
The contrasting positions highlight the gap heading into the Rome meeting. Lebanon is expected to prioritize an immediate end to hostilities, while Israel appears focused on concrete security steps tied to Hezbollah's presence and military infrastructure.
The talks in Rome are therefore shaping up as an important test of whether diplomacy can narrow those differences. Even before the meeting begins, the reported demands from Beirut and the warning from Israel suggest that any breakthrough would likely depend on linking a ceasefire to changes on the ground near Hezbollah positions.