Lebanon and Israel concluded US-brokered talks in Rome on Wednesday, with a US official saying they had made progress on implementing a plan ​that could see Israeli forces begin to withdraw from some parts ‌of southern Lebanon within days.

The two longtime foes held ambassador-level talks at the US embassy in Rome on Tuesday and Wednesday — their sixth round of face-to-face negotiations since a ​new war erupted on March 2 between Israel and Lebanese armed group ​Hezbollah, triggered by the wider regional conflict.

Under a US-brokered June 26 framework deal, ⁠Lebanon and Israel agreed to implement a “pilot zone” project that would see ​the disarmament of militant groups — an apparent reference to Hezbollah — as well as ​the deployment of Lebanese troops to the south and the progressive withdrawal of Israeli forces still occupying Lebanese land.

In written comments distributed to journalists, a US official described the two ​days of talks as “productive and positive”.

“We agreed on the structure and guidelines for ​the pilot zone process, to be finalised and implemented in the coming days,” the official ‌said.

The ⁠official said talks would move to a technical phase to implement the framework deal and reach a “comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon.”

There was no immediate comment from either Lebanon or Israel on progress made in the talks.

Israel’s military is ​occupying what it describes ​as a “buffer zone” ⁠about 10 km (6 miles) into Lebanon along the entire length of the Israeli border. Israeli officials say the zone ​is necessary to protect northern Israeli communities from attacks launched ​by Hezbollah.

Lebanon ⁠has called for Israel to begin withdrawing immediately, but Israel has said its troops would remain in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remained armed.

The direct talks ⁠have ​continued despite intermittent deadly Israeli strikes and strong ​objections from Hezbollah, which rejects disarming and says only pressure from its ally Iran can secure an ​end to the war and Israel’s withdrawal.