Hezbollah rejects US-brokered Israel-Lebanon accord as 'humiliating' after fresh drone strike

A surprise agreement in Washington

Israel, Lebanon and the United States on Friday signed a framework accord in Washington, a move Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as laying a path toward lasting peace. The deal, sealed after five rounds of direct talks that began in mid-April, envisages an end to the decades-old conflict, the establishment of good-neighbourly relations and mutual recognition of the right to exist in peace. A joint military coordination group is to oversee implementation, while the Lebanese army is tasked with restoring its authority across the entire country as non-state armed groups are verified as disarmed.

This is the beginning of the beginning. We still have a lot of work to do. We do not underestimate, in any way, the difficulty of the task ahead.

Hezbollah's fierce rejection

Within hours of the signing, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem issued a stinging denunciation, calling the agreement 'null and void'. He insisted that only the terms of the June 17 Iran-US protocol, which includes a ceasefire provision for Lebanon, were valid.

The Washington framework agreement is humiliating, shameful and represents an abandonment of sovereignty. This agreement is null and void, and the provisions of the Iranian-American protocol must be applied.

Qassem accused the Lebanese government of legitimising the Israeli occupation, warning the accord could lead to annexation of territory. Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadallah added that anyone who shakes hands with the enemy is a criminal.

Clashes on the ground

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, an Israeli drone struck a crossroads near the Farah amusement park in Nabatieh al-Fawqa on Saturday, the first such attack since the deal was announced. The Israeli military said it targeted suspected terrorists who posed a threat to its soldiers. Lebanese authorities confirmed the destruction of a house in the village of Kfar Roummane but reported no immediate casualties. In a separate incident, Israeli forces advanced towards the outskirts of Kfar Shouba and opened fire with medium and heavy machine guns.

The terms and the road ahead

Under the framework, Israel is to gradually withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon as the Lebanese army deploys into areas now controlled by Israeli forces. Two pilot zones will be established, one north and one south of the Litani River. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would stay in a security zone until Hezbollah lays down its arms. Lebanese ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad called the accord a first step towards restoring her country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Since Israel launched its air and ground campaign against Hezbollah on 2 March, more than 4,200 people have been killed, over 12,000 wounded and more than one million displaced, according to Lebanese official figures.