Lebanese and Israeli delegations began two days of talks at the US embassy in Rome on Tuesday, with Beirut hoping to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a US-brokered agreement. However, expectations for swift progress remain low, officials told Reuters.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun instructed the delegation to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from two designated areas in southern Lebanon before any further discussions, according to the Lebanese presidency.

The talks aim to implement a framework agreement reached in Washington on June 26, which calls for an end to Israel's war on Lebanon, disarmament of armed groups – an apparent reference to Hezbollah – deployment of Lebanese troops to the south, and a progressive Israeli withdrawal.

But deadly Israeli attacks have continued, and Hezbollah has rejected the agreement and disarmament efforts. Israel has said its troops will remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed. Despite a US-Iran deal in mid-June to halt fighting on all fronts, Israel has continued its operations.

More than 4,000 Lebanese have been killed and over a million displaced since March, according to Lebanon's health ministry. At least 32 Israeli soldiers and four civilians have been killed by Hezbollah during the same period.

Source: www.aljazeera.com