A U.S. military delegation is expected to arrive in Beirut within days to coordinate the on-the-ground implementation of the U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, beginning with the establishment of agreed "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa said after meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

The delegation will work with Lebanese authorities to establish the operational mechanism for transferring responsibility in the designated areas from Israeli forces to the Lebanese Army while ensuring that no security vacuum emerges during the process, Issa said.

The announcement comes ahead of a new round of Lebanese-Israeli talks scheduled for July 14-15 in Rome, where officials are expected to focus on implementing the framework agreement reached in Washington last month.

The agreement, signed on June 26 under U.S. sponsorship, outlines a phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory, beginning with two pilot zones, alongside the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces. It also calls for Hezbollah's disarmament, a provision the group has rejected.

During his meeting with Issa, President Aoun stressed the importance of reinforcing the ceasefire in southern Lebanon and urged the United States to increase pressure on Israel to halt its military operations and fully implement the framework agreement reached following Lebanese-U.S.-Israeli negotiations in Washington.

Aoun also called for an end to Israeli shelling, airstrikes, demolition operations and bulldozing activities in towns and villages that remain under Israeli occupation.

According to the Lebanese presidency, discussions also covered Aoun's planned official visit to Washington at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the latest developments in Lebanon and the broader region.

Aoun is expected to travel to Washington on July 21 for talks with Trump, with implementation of the framework agreement expected to dominate the agenda.

Issa described the visit as particularly significant, saying it reflects Trump's commitment to Lebanon and his efforts to promote security and stability while helping end the country's prolonged crisis.

The ambassador dismissed speculation surrounding the relocation of the next round of negotiations from Washington to Rome, saying the venue change was made solely for logistical reasons to facilitate travel for ambassadors and delegation members.

He said the Rome meetings would focus on practical implementation rather than political negotiations. Specialized working groups, including legal and technical experts where necessary, will be established to carry out the provisions of the framework agreement and oversee its phased execution.

Issa added that the Rome session would build on the understandings reached during previous negotiations in Washington, with additional meetings to be held in Rome or other locations as implementation progresses.

Preparations for launching the pilot zones are already underway, he said, with the arrival of the U.S. military delegation marking the next step in translating the agreement into action. The precise timetable for deployment will be determined after coordination meetings between the parties.

"It is essential to avoid any security vacuum following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the designated areas," Issa said.

The framework agreement remains the centerpiece of ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize Lebanon's southern border after months of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. However, significant challenges remain.

Israeli officials have insisted their forces will continue to maintain a security buffer extending roughly 10 kilometers into southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains armed, while the agreement itself does not specify a timetable for Israel's full withdrawal.

A Lebanese diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations told AFP that Beirut is demanding that Israel first withdraw from the two designated pilot zones and hand them over to the Lebanese Army before Lebanon participates in the next round of talks in Rome.

Issa also met Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss implementation of the agreement, as Washington intensifies efforts to move the process from diplomatic commitments to concrete developments on the ground.