Lebanon and Israel have begun a new round of US-sponsored direct talks in Rome, as Beirut seeks Israel's withdrawal from the south of the country.

At negotiations in Washington in June, Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a framework deal that involved the disarmament of Hezbollah, which Hezbollah rejected at the time, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region.

This week's negotiations, set to continue until Thursday, are the seventh round of US-sponsored talks.

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said earlier that the direct negotiations would bring "nothing but shame, humiliation, and successive compromises" for Lebanon.