Lebanon, Israel conclude two days of 'positive' talks: US official

Lebanon and Israel completed a new round of Washington-mediated negotiations in Rome on Wednesday, agreeing to implement the "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon agreed under a recent framework deal, a US official said.

"Talks concluded after two days of productive and positive discussions," the official said, adding that the participants "agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days".

The US-brokered negotiations took place in the Italian capital over the framework agreement sealed last month after five rounds of talks in Washington, with Lebanese negotiators hoping for progress on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

The deal seeks an end to the war in Lebanon, disarmament of Hezbollah, the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south and for Israeli forces to steadily withdraw from the country, starting with two "pilot zones".

Lebanon and Israel, who have no formal relations, started negotiations after Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah drew its country to the broader Middle East war by attacking Israel in March.