Israel, Lebanon and US sign framework deal in Washington, Israeli troops to pull back from pilot zones in south

A framework for peace

On Friday, June 26, ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon signed a trilateral framework agreement in Washington in the presence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document emerged after a four-day round of negotiations mediated by the Trump administration. Rubio described it as a first step toward a lasting peace.

Today is a good day, because we are pleased to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, reached with the mediation and support of the United States of America. It begins to create a framework for lasting peace and security. This is what these two nations deserve.

Pilot zones and American oversight

The agreement launches two pilot projects on the ground. Israeli forces are to pull back from small areas of southern Lebanon they currently occupy, and the Lebanese army will deploy in their place. US officers will work alongside the Lebanese military, with a main task of verifying that Hezbollah fighters are not active in the zones. According to two Israeli officials cited by Axios, the areas lie north and south of the Litani River. The withdrawal would be the first of its kind since Israel expanded its occupation of southern Lebanon during the war with Iran. Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter stressed the deal's limited scope:

The agreement does not include Iran or Hezbollah.

Hezbollah's opposition

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group, was not a party to the talks and has refused to disarm, despite demands from the Lebanese government. The organisation opposes the negotiations, and the shaky truce between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile. Israeli defence minister Israel Kac announced that troops would stay in a "security zone" along the border, even after the pilot withdrawals. Lebanese representatives said their goal is to restore full state sovereignty over the south.

Broader context of US-Iran tensions

The framework deal comes one week after the United States and Iran signed a preliminary agreement to end the war that began in late February. Hezbollah had entered the conflict by attacking northern Israel, triggering a strong Israeli response. According to Reuters, the fighting has killed thousands and displaced over a million Lebanese. Just a day before the Washington ceremony, on June 25, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in southern Lebanon warning residents against military activity in the border zone.

From war to dialogue