Israel and Lebanon sign US-brokered framework to dismantle Hezbollah

Israel and Lebanon sign US-brokered framework to dismantle Hezbollah

Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26, 2026, following several days of U.S.-mediated talks. The trilateral document, signed by Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad in the presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, establishes a process to dismantle the militant group Hezbollah and allow Lebanon to regain territory occupied by Israeli forces.

The agreement is described as a first step toward peace after months of conflict. The U.S. State Department announced it will facilitate a newly created Military Coordination Group for Lebanon to implement the framework, while pledging $100 million in humanitarian assistance.

Terms and Territorial Disputes

Under the framework, Lebanon is obligated to extend the authority of its state and armed forces over all its territory. In return, the deal aims to achieve an Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese land. However, the process of withdrawal is tied to the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a video that Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed and no longer poses a threat. Netanyahu noted that Israel is establishing two pilot zones to allow the Lebanese army to begin preparing to take control of certain areas. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun previously mentioned that these pilot zones were under discussion pending Israeli approval.

While a State Department official told Reuters on June 25 that Israel had agreed to pull back from some territory, both Israeli and Lebanese officials denied this claim. Tensions remain high on the ground; on June 26, Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the town of Mansouri ordering residents to leave, which a senior Lebanese military official said indicates Israel recently added the town to its occupation zone.

Hezbollah's Rejection and the Threat of Civil War

Hezbollah was not party to the Washington talks and has rejected the agreement. Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, stated on Al-Mayadeen TV that the group will not give up its weapons and views the direct negotiations as weakening Lebanese sovereignty. Fadlallah warned that Lebanese authorities would be unable to enforce the agreement unless they go, with American support, to civil war.

Hezbollah has maintained that it is only required to disarm in the area south of the Litani River, rather than throughout the country. Additionally, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stated on June 26 that Israel must leave the country unconditionally as a necessary condition for peace.

Context of the Conflict

The current hostilities began on March 2, 2026, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel. This occurred days after the U.S. And Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28. Since March, Israeli strikes have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million. At least 37 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon or northern Israel, while four Israeli civilians have died. Reuters reported on May 4 that several thousand Hezbollah fighters were killed during the war.

The Washington talks were the fifth round of mediated engagement between the two nations. These discussions were separate from an interim memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 between the U.S. And Iran to end fighting in the Islamic Republic. That deal included a 60-day negotiation period regarding Tehran's nuclear program.

Diplomatic Perspectives

Ambassador Yechiel Leiter described the framework as a path to a future where citizens of Tel Aviv and Beirut can travel freely between the two cities, provided Hezbollah is dismantled. Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad called the deal a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the agreement as the beginning of the beginning, acknowledging the difficulty of the task. He expressed concern for the Lebanese people, who he said have suffered from countries using Lebanon as a launchpad for attacks.