Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to hold talks in Rome on July 15 and 16

Italy’s Foreign Ministry announced that Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors will hold direct talks in Rome on July 15 and 16. The meeting marks the sixth round of U.S.-mediated discussions between the two countries, which do not maintain diplomatic relations and remain technically in a state of war.

A ministry spokesman said the talks will continue efforts begun in Washington to reach de-escalation. The two countries and the U.S. signed a framework agreement last month that seeks lasting peace, five days after a ceasefire was reached between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.

Regional developments Israeli forces dropped four stun grenades on the town of Haddatha in southern Lebanon, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The same report stated that artillery shelling struck Beit Yahoun and an airstrike hit Qounine in the Bint Jbeil district.

In Gaza, an Israeli attack on a tent west of Gaza City killed one person and wounded others, according to local correspondents. Earlier the same day, another strike at the entrance to al-Sumoud camp west of Khan Younis killed one person. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said it assisted the evacuation of 31 patients and 60 companions from its al-Mawasi field hospital in Khan Younis to the Rafah crossing, in coordination with the World Health Organization.

Energy market effects The International Energy Agency reported that global natural gas demand is expected to fall 0.5 percent this year, or about 20 billion cubic metres, mainly due to higher prices following reduced LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

The agency’s third-quarter 2026 Gas Market Report noted this would be the third annual decline this decade. Asian demand dropped about 1 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026 as higher prices prompted some power generators to switch to coal.