Israel and Lebanon sign US-brokered framework deal for phased withdrawal from south Lebanon

The agreement and pilot zones

On June 26, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement at the State Department in Washington after five days of US-mediated negotiations. The document was signed by Lebanese ambassador to the US Nada Moawad and Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance. The agreement establishes a Declaration of Intentions, a roadmap for future peace that begins with two "pilot zones" north and south of the Litani River. In these areas, the Israel Defense Forces will first neutralize Hezbollah forces, then hand control to the Lebanese army after the latter is trained by US military personnel. Once the Lebanese army restores control, displaced residents will return to their homes.

The trilateral framework signed today is the first step toward restoring Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring a permanent and definitive cessation of hostilities, allowing our people to return to their land and all Lebanese to live in peace, security, and prosperity.

Netanyahu's security zone

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the deal as a strategic blow to Iran, asserting that Israel will maintain its security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. He said the zone covers the range of Hezbollah's anti-tank missiles and that neither Hezbollah fighters nor the Lebanese civilian population will be allowed to enter. The prime minister's office added that IDF freedom of action will be preserved throughout the zone to neutralize any threat.

We will maintain the security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed and as long as there remains a threat to the State of Israel.

Reactions and implementation doubts

US officials described the agreement as an important diplomatic step, though Rubio cautioned that "there is still a lot of work to do" before full implementation. The Lebanese government presented it as the gradual beginning of restoring state sovereignty and eventual normalization of relations with Israel. In contrast, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah accused the government of treason and warned the agreement could lead to civil war. Reports also noted contradictory signals: a State Department official had said on Thursday that Israel agreed to withdraw from part of the territory, a claim later denied by both Israeli and Lebanese officials.

Ceasefire and next steps

A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since June 20, though Israel has conducted several strikes against what it described as immediate threats from the group. The pilot-zone model, confirmed by Israeli officials, includes one area south of the Litani, outside the original security zone, and a second small area north of the river, in a zone captured by the IDF in the preceding two weeks and no longer deemed operationally essential. American military officers will work with the Lebanese army to verify that the pilot zones are free of Hezbollah presence. The framework is seen as a first move toward shaping conditions for a permanent end to Israeli occupation and restoring Lebanese territorial integrity, but the presence of an armed Hezbollah remains the central obstacle.