Exclusive JNews Lebanon
The curtain has fallen on the Rome negotiations, yielding tangible, highly significant results that have bypassed local political maneuvers. The tripartite framework (Lebanon, Israel, and the United States) has officially shifted from abstract talks to on-the-ground technical implementation.
As President Joseph Aoun prepares to head to Washington for a crucial White House summit with Donald Trump next Tuesday, the US President has sent shockwaves through regional political circles. In a televised interview with Fox News, Trump linked the future handling of Hezbollah to a new regional role for Syria under its leader, President Ahmad al-Sharaa.
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1. Rome Behind-the-Scenes: The “Pilot Zones” Defined; Decisive Military Zoom Meeting this Friday
Diplomatic and high-level security sources have revealed to “Jnews Lebanon” that the second and final day of negotiations inside the US Embassy in Rome concluded with a formal agreement on the structure and operational guidelines of the “First Pilot Zone.”
Our private sources have obtained the exclusive details of the maps and specific locations finalized behind closed doors. These are “mixed” security zones, combining occupied towns from which the Israeli army will withdraw, and bordering towns where the Lebanese Army will significantly reinforce its deployment:
- Targeted Sectors: Geographically, the pilot zones encompass the towns of Zoutar al-Gharbiya, Zoutar al-Sharqiya, Al-Ghandouriya, Bourj Qalaouiyeh, Srifa, and Froun.
- The Security Test: Tel Aviv seeks to test the capabilities and resolve of the Lebanese Army to restrict weapons and maintain absolute security in sensitive areas. A prime example is Zoutar al-Gharbiya, where Israeli forces sit on the outskirts rather than inside, demanding strict security guarantees from the Ministry of Defense (Yarzeh) before any withdrawal begins.
- Friday’s Virtual Meeting: Sources confirmed to “Jnews” that military and technical delegations from Lebanon, Israel, and the United States will hold a closed virtual meeting tomorrow, Friday. The parties will finalize the technical details and set the precise “D-day and hour” for the launch of the redeployment, which is expected to begin within days—potentially before the end of this weekend.
2. Trump Drops Syria Bombshell: “Ahmad al-Sharaa Will Deal with Hezbollah”
Simultaneously with the US Embassy’s announcement of the successful conclusion of the Rome talks, President Donald Trump delivered major statements to Fox News, reshuffling the regional diplomatic deck.
Trump remarked that an Israeli withdrawal from parts of Lebanon would be “a good thing,” but dropped a geopolitical bombshell by stating that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa “will be much more precise than Israel and will handle the Hezbollah file.” This strongly signals a grand regional arrangement in the making, where Washington coordinates directly with Damascus to secure borders and manage armed factions.
This major development coincides with an active economic push between Beirut and Damascus. Minister of Economy Amer Al-Bsat recently led a high-level economic delegation to the Syrian capital, meeting with President al-Sharaa to discuss joint investments and trade corridors.
Read also Exclusive- Macron-Al-Sharaa Secret Deal: French Plan to Resettle Syrian Refugees in Lebanon!
3. From Baabda to Washington: Monday Think-Tank Briefings and Tuesday’s Oval Office Summit
Domestically, President Joseph Aoun briefed the Orthodox Gathering, reiterating that the Framework Agreement is “the best possible option and has already begun to bear fruit.” He emphasized that Washington is actively listening to Lebanon, now that the Lebanese file sits directly on the Oval Office table.
Exclusive to “Jnews Lebanon”: President Aoun’s high-stakes itinerary in Washington, starting Sunday, has been narrowed down to two vital stops. On Monday, he will hold an expansive briefing at the Lebanese Embassy with top US think tanks and policy research groups. On Tuesday, he will sit down with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office for a historic bilateral summit to secure economic and military backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces.
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4. Parliament’s Legislative Marathon Braces for the “General Amnesty” and “Media Law” Storms
Back in Beirut, away from the diplomatic maneuvers of the South, Nejmeh Square hosted the first day of a packed legislative session featuring 44 draft laws. While the initial sessions remained relatively calm, observers expect a stormy second day as Parliament tackles highly polarized issues:
- General Amnesty and Capital Punishment: Deep sectarian and political divides persist over which categories of prisoners will be covered by the proposed amnesty, which also includes the abolition of the death penalty.
- The New Media Law: After 15 years of committee debates and redrafting, the controversial new media law is finally up for vote, drawing intense scrutiny from journalists and civil society.
- Judicial Moves: In a surprise development coinciding with the legislative push, the Military Court lifted the travel ban on singer Fadel Shaker, just days after his release from custody.
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