Lebanon, Israel Sign US-Sponsored Framework Agreement

Lebanon and Israel on Friday signed a United States-sponsored framework agreement in Washington, concluding the fifth round of negotiations between the two parties. A senior Lebanese official source told Anadolu that the agreement includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, without specifying a timeline or the areas covered by the pullout. A live broadcast showed the signing ceremony, but the complete details of the agreement have not yet been released. The Lebanese source, speaking to Anadolu on condition of anonymity, said the talks had made progress on a number of unresolved issues between the two sides. In his speech at the signing ceremony, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the framework agreement is intended to build a foundation for lasting peace and security. ‘This is the beginning of a beginning. We by no means underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead, but we understand how important this step is,’ Rubio said. In a separate statement, Rubio said the agreement establishes a clear and structured process to restore Lebanese sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, dismantle its infrastructure, and enable Israel to return to its borders once the threat to its citizens has been eliminated. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter described the agreement as a victory for the doctrine of peace through strength. ‘In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the path to peace between Israel and Lebanon is open,’ Leiter said. He added that the ultimate goal is genuine peace, where the sovereignty of both nations is respected and protected. Israel continues to occupy several areas in southern Lebanon. Some have been held for decades and others were seized during the 2023-2024 war. In its latest offensive, Israeli forces reportedly advanced more than 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory. According to official Lebanese government data, since 2 March 2026, the Israeli offensive in Lebanon has killed more than 4,000 people, wounded over 12,000, and displaced more than one million residents.