The U.S. State Department published the text of the agreement, which has the backing of the United States and aims to achieve ‘lasting peace’ in the region.
Officials have released the full text of a U.S.-brokered framework agreement between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon that charts a path toward ending decades of conflict, calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament, phased Israeli troop withdrawals, and direct negotiations between the two neighboring countries aimed at achieving lasting peace.
The agreement was signed in Washington on June 26 and released later that same day by the U.S. State Department. It lays out a performance-based process under which the Lebanese Armed Forces would gradually restore state authority across Lebanon while disarming Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups.
As those steps are verified, Israeli forces would progressively redeploy from Lebanese territory, with the ultimate goal of ending the long-running conflict and establishing peaceful relations between the two countries.
It marks the most comprehensive U.S.-brokered effort in years to transform a fragile ceasefire into a lasting political settlement after months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that the United States designates as a terrorist organization.
“We are happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and of the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America, that begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the signing ceremony.
“That’s what these two nations deserve.”
Path to Peace
The framework says Israel and Lebanon aim to end decades of conflict, formally conclude any state of war between them, and establish “peaceful neighborly relations” through direct negotiations mediated by the United States.
Implementation will follow a reciprocal, phased process detailed in a Security Annex—to be fleshed out later with Washington’s support—establishing verification mechanisms and conditions for expanded Lebanese military deployments and Israeli troop redeployments.
Under the agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces will gradually restore state authority across the country by carrying out the verified disarmament of Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups and dismantling their military infrastructure. The framework states such groups will have “no military or security role and no armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon.”
By Tom Ozimek
