The three-day negotiations will be held under US sponsorship and will bring together political and military delegations from both sides, along with a legal adviser and a land-surveying expert, a Lebanese official told Anadolu.
The ceasefire and ongoing Israeli military operations are expected to dominate the agenda. Lebanon plans to raise concerns over land-clearing operations, explosions and the demolition of homes, which it says violate the framework agreement reached in June.
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Beirut is also expected to propose new pilot areas for an Israeli withdrawal.
The second phase could cover either Bint Jbeil or Khiam, two areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, according to the Lebanese official.
Lebanon’s political delegation will include former Ambassador Simon Karam and Ambassador to Washington Nada Mouawad, while Brig. Gen. George Rizkallah will lead the military delegation.
Legal adviser Antoine Sfeir and land-surveying expert Najib Massihi will also participate.
The Lebanese military delegation is expected to bring maps and documents detailing the deployment of the Lebanese army in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the first pilot area agreed upon during the sixth round of negotiations.
It will also present plans for potential Lebanese military deployments in areas from which Israeli forces could withdraw.
The talks come amid continued tensions along Lebanon’s southern border, with Lebanese authorities accusing Israel of carrying out land-clearing, demolition and explosive operations against homes and other structures in several southern towns.
According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks since March 2 have killed 4,333 people and injured 12,236 others.
Israel has continued military operations despite a US-sponsored framework agreement signed by Beirut and Tel Aviv on June 26.
Under the agreement, Israel is to gradually withdraw from all occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army in those areas and the disarmament of armed groups, referring to Hezbollah.
The latest round of negotiations could therefore prove crucial for determining whether the framework agreement can translate into further Israeli withdrawals and a more durable reduction in violence along the border.
