Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington on Friday, following several days of US-mediated talks aimed at ending fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Both sides were careful to describe the deal as an initial step rather than a final settlement.
Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad and her Israeli counterpart Yechiel Leiter signed the trilateral document with the United States at the State Department, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio presiding. "Today we've taken the first step in what will be a difficult journey, without a doubt, but an important and an essential and a necessary one," Rubio said before the signing.
In a later statement, Rubio said Washington would facilitate the deal's implementation through a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon and would commit significant resources, including an immediate $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the UN. The US also reaffirmed its intent to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese Armed Forces with more than $30 million in additional funding.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal allows Israeli forces to continue occupying southern Lebanon if Hezbollah does not disarm, and that the Lebanese army would begin organising to take control of territory starting with two "pilot zones" from which Israeli troops would withdraw. Israel has described the territory it holds as a security or buffer zone designed to prevent Hezbollah attacks on northern Israel. "To the degree that the Lebanese army performs in dismantling and disarming Hezbollah, we will proceed with additional pilot zones and the ultimate determination of an internationally recognised, secure, and agreed upon border," Leiter told reporters after the signing.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the agreement should allow Lebanese citizens to return to fully liberated land and rebuilt homes, with no compromise on sovereignty. Ambassador Moawad also called it a first step toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty. Leiter was more pointed in his framing: "Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in," he said.
Hezbollah rejects the deal
The agreement faces immediate resistance from Hezbollah itself. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Lebanese authorities would be unable to enforce the agreement without US support amounting to civil war, according to pro-Iranian broadcaster Al Mayadeen. Fadlallah said the group would confront any measure taken by Lebanese authorities and would hold on to its weapons, describing its opposition as serious and firm.
Violence has also continued since the ceasefire took effect. Israel said on Friday its forces had struck and killed seven Hezbollah members operating near the territory it occupies, though Reuters could not independently confirm this. Israeli forces also dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri on Friday ordering residents to leave, Lebanese state media reported, the first such order issued since the latest ceasefire came into force. A senior Lebanese military official said Israel had recently added Mansouri to its occupation zone.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began when the armed group fired on Israel on 2 March, days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran. The subsequent Israeli air and ground campaign has killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than one million, according to Reuters. Israel's death toll from the current round of hostilities includes at least 32 soldiers and four civilians.
Source: Reuters
