Israel and Lebanon sign framework peace deal but Hezbollah immediately rejects it and new airstrike hits south

The framework agreement

Israel and Lebanon signed a 14-point framework agreement in Washington on Friday 26 June, after US-mediated talks. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “the beginning of the beginning” of a path toward permanent peace. The text affirms each state’s right to live in peace and a mutual desire for security as neighbouring sovereign countries.

The deal commits Lebanon and Israel to “cease all hostile or negative actions in international political or legal forums” (Article 13), to release prisoners and return bodies, and – most centrally – to the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and removal of related infrastructure. The Iran-backed Hezbollah is named as the principal target. Disarmament is tied to a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. The Lebanese army would restore effective sovereignty, first in two pilot zones where reconstruction would begin and civilians would return under exclusive state control. A US-backed military coordination group will oversee implementation.

This is the beginning of the beginning.

Hezbollah’s response

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected the agreement outright on Saturday, calling it “null and void”, a “grave error”, and an “abandonment of sovereignty”. He accused the Beirut government of legitimising Israeli “occupation”. Qassem’s statement came a few hours after supporters of the Shia militia protested in the Lebanese capital.

The Washington framework agreement is humiliating, shameful, and represents an abandonment of sovereignty.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah went further, warning that the Lebanese government could only enforce the deal if it “embarks on a civil war” with US backing. The group is not a party to the agreement, and it is unclear whether it will withdraw fighters from south of the Litani River as required.

Legal concerns

Legal experts warned that Article 13 could block victims of Israeli war crimes from seeking accountability. It may prevent Lebanon from granting the International Criminal Court jurisdiction or even supporting a UN fact-finding mission, according to Farouk al-Moghrabi, a former adviser to the ministry of human rights.

This will kill any hope of granting the ICC jurisdiction, even any hope of a UN fact finding mission.

Nizar Saghieh, head of the Lebanese NGO Legal Agenda, said the government was “normalising the crime and waiving its rights to ensure any investigation or the prosecution of these crimes, or even to assist the victim in their search for justice.”

Violence continues

A day after the signing, the Israeli military carried out an air strike on the Nabatiyeh area of southern Lebanon. An army spokeswoman said the target was “suspected terrorists” who had threatened Israeli soldiers. The strike underscores how the ground situation remains unchanged. Since Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel on 8 October 2023 “in solidarity” with Hamas, Israeli strikes have killed more than 8,000 people in Lebanon; dozens of Israeli soldiers and at least 49 civilians have died in Hezbollah attacks. A US-brokered ceasefire signed on 16 April 2026 has done little to stop the cross-border fire.

Iran deal under strain

The renewed violence is also complicating the wider US-Iran peace architecture. Tehran accused Washington of a “blatant violation” after recent American strikes on its southern defence facilities. Washington worries that the persistent Israel-Hezbollah tension could unravel the broader agreement with Iran that foresees an end to hostilities “on all fronts”, including Lebanon.