Washington has unveiled a trilateral framework agreement between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States, designed to end hostilities that have escalated as a secondary front in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The 14-point accord, signed in the U.S. capital, outlines a path toward lasting peace and security.
The agreement begins with both Israel and Lebanon, supported by the United States, affirming their mutual objective of achieving enduring peace and security. The neighboring nations formally declare their intention to definitively conclude the conflict, address its root causes, and thereby officially end any state of war between them.
The framework mandates "irreversible progress" in resolving all outstanding issues between Israel and Lebanon through direct bilateral talks, mediated and supported by the United States. A key provision involves the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) restoring effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, contingent upon the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their infrastructure. This process will facilitate the progressive redeployment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Lebanese territory, with defined steps and verification mechanisms established within the framework.
As part of the plan, the LAF will gradually assume full security responsibility in designated "pilot zones," serving as a mechanism for phased and verified IDF redeployments and LAF deployments. Two initial zones have been agreed upon, with future zones subject to mutual consent. Upon confirmation of the disarmament of non-state armed groups, notably Hezbollah, the LAF will assume complete security control in these areas. The agreement states that internationally supported reconstruction efforts will commence, allowing Lebanese civilians to return safely to these areas under the exclusive authority of Lebanese state entities, with the United States committed to verifying and supporting this process.
Lebanon's government, under the terms of the deal, reiterates its commitment to re-establishing full sovereignty, rebuilding the state's monopoly on the use of force, achieving complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensuring they have no military or security role or armed capabilities within Lebanon. The Lebanese government seeks international, particularly Arab, support, led by the United States, to achieve these objectives. Furthermore, Israel and Lebanon will establish working groups to draft a comprehensive peace and security agreement and initiate complementary tracks of direct engagement facilitated by the U.S.
Israel's government has stated that its military actions in Lebanon were solely a response to attacks, threats, and hostile intent from non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. The termination of this threat, through disarmament and agreed-upon security arrangements, would eliminate the necessity for future IDF military action or presence in Lebanon. The government of Israel explicitly declares that it harbors no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
