WASHINGTON (GNP): Israel and Lebanon have formalized an initial framework agreement in Washington following several days of US-mediated negotiations aimed at bringing an end to hostilities between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
The trilateral document was signed at the US State Department on Friday by Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, alongside American officials. Both sides described the accord as a preliminary step rather than a comprehensive settlement, with significant conditions remaining to be fulfilled before any lasting resolution can take effect.
Speaking ahead of the signing, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the difficulty of the road ahead while emphasising the importance of the moment.
He later announced that Washington would facilitate implementation of the agreement through a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon and commit substantial resources to the process, including an immediate 100 million dollars in humanitarian assistance coordinated with the United Nations. An additional sum exceeding 30 million dollars was pledged to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces, enabling them to more effectively assert sovereignty across Lebanese territory.
Conditions and Caveats
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the agreement permits Israeli forces to maintain their presence in southern Lebanon for as long as Hezbollah refrains from disarming. He outlined a phased approach under which the Lebanese army would begin assuming control of territory starting with two designated areas, described as pilot zones, from which Israeli troops would withdraw in the initial stage. Netanyahu indicated that further withdrawals would be contingent on the Lebanese army’s progress in dismantling and disarming Hezbollah.
Israel has characterised its continued presence in parts of southern Lebanon as a security buffer zone intended to prevent cross-border attacks on northern Israeli communities.
Lebanese Ambassador Moawad similarly described the agreement as a first step toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed hope that the accord would allow displaced Lebanese citizens to return to fully liberated land and rebuilt homes.
Israeli Ambassador Leiter was direct in summarising the diplomatic shift the agreement represented. “Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in,” he told reporters following the signing ceremony.
Background to the Conflict
The current round of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began in early March, days after the United States and Israel conducted strikes against Iran. Hezbollah’s retaliatory fire triggered a sustained Israeli military campaign involving both aerial bombardment and ground operations, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and the displacement of over one million others. Israeli casualties from this phase of fighting include at least 32 soldiers and four civilians.
A ceasefire between the two sides had been in place prior to the Washington talks, though sporadic violence continued. Israeli forces reported striking seven Hezbollah operatives near occupied territory on the day of the signing, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Hezbollah Rejects the Deal
Hezbollah swiftly rejected the framework agreement. A senior Hezbollah lawmaker stated that Lebanese authorities would be unable to enforce the accord without triggering internal conflict and warned that the group would resist any attempts to implement its terms, vowing to retain its weapons regardless of external pressure.
Israeli forces also issued evacuation notices to residents of the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri on Friday, the first such order since the most recent ceasefire took effect. A Lebanese military official confirmed that Israel had recently incorporated Mansouri into its designated occupation zone.
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A Step Toward Regional Peace
Reflecting on the significance of the agreement, Secretary Rubio expressed pride in Washington’s role in bringing the two parties to the table. The United States, he indicated, views the accord as a meaningful step toward a future defined by stability and peaceful coexistence in the region, while acknowledging that considerable work lies ahead before that vision is fully realised.
The agreement marks one of the most consequential diplomatic developments in the Israel-Lebanon relationship in recent years, though its durability will depend heavily on whether all parties — particularly Hezbollah — can be brought within its framework in the weeks and months ahead.
