Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter has said that the Israeli army will only withdraw from Lebanon if Hezbollah is removed from pilot zones in the country's south.

Israel is still procrastinating and coming up with excuses to delay withdrawal from south Lebanon despite U.S. and Lebanese pressure in this regard, media reports said.

A Lebanese official told AFP that Lebanon would take part in planned talks with Israel next week in Rome, after Beirut had previously conditioned participation on Israel withdrawing from certain areas it occupies in the south.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that "Lebanon will participate" without offering further details, as a U.S. military delegation visited the country to discuss implementing a framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

A U.S. military delegation met with Lebanon's army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel's withdrawal from a "pilot zone" in occupied territory, a Lebanese military official told AFP on Saturday.

Under a framework agreement reached on June 26, Israel will gradually withdraw from areas of southern Lebanon where it has deployed troops to fight Hezbollah.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation has reported that the Israeli army is expected to begin withdrawing from the so-called "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon next week, coinciding with a new round of talks with Lebanon to be held in Rome.

An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon killed a young motorcyclist on Friday, Lebanese state media reported, the latest attack despite a truce in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

President Joseph Aoun on Friday assured a Lebanese Forces delegation led by party leader Samir Geagea that he “will not back down from the decision to negotiate” with Israel, while insisting that he will give explanations to the Lebanese people.

President Joseph Aoun has said that "as long as Hezbollah’s allegiance is to Iran, there will be no progress.”

President Joseph Aoun is preparing a comprehensive file ahead of his pivotal talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, including Lebanon's requests for international economic aid and a reconstruction fund - under the exclusive supervision of the Lebanese state, pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported Friday.

Aoun would also request additional support for the Lebanese Armed Forces.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday stressed that "Lebanon cannot remain in limbo,” adding that “Israel must withdraw from the south, and reconstruction must begin, but a functioning state is essential for all of this to happen."