US military delegation arrives in Lebanon to support ceasefire with Israel

The United States has sent a military delegation to Lebanon to support the implementation of a framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the Israeli regime and Hezbollah, according to a report by the Financial Times. Two senior Lebanese officials told the UK newspaper that the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) dispatched officials to Beirut on Friday, ahead of technical talks between Lebanon and the Israeli regime scheduled for next week in Rome.

The discussions will focus on implementing a US-sponsored framework agreement reached on June 26, which provides for a phased Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory. The agreement marks a significant step toward de-escalation in the region, where tensions have been high due to ongoing cross-border clashes.

Turkiye's Anadolu news agency reported that it had received confirmation from a US State Department spokesperson that CENTCOM is "coordinating closely" with both countries. The spokesperson told Anadolu that the Israeli regime and Lebanon have reached the "implementation stage" of the agreement and that the first pilot zone, from which Israeli forces are expected to withdraw, will be launched within days.

The arrival of the US delegation underscores Washington's active role in mediating between the two sides. The framework agreement is seen as a potential pathway to a broader ceasefire, though details on the scope and timeline of the withdrawal remain under negotiation. According to the report by Mehr News, the technical talks in Rome will address key logistical and security aspects of the implementation.