Washington has released the text of a trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon, and the United States aimed at ending hostilities that have been a violent second front of the Middle East war. The 14-point agreement, signed in the US capital, outlines steps towards achieving lasting peace and security between Israel and Lebanon, with US mediation and support.
Key Points of the Agreement
The agreement begins by affirming the shared goal of achieving lasting peace and security between Israel and Lebanon, with US support. Both countries declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and formally conclude any state of war between them.
The framework aims to make irreversible progress towards resolving all issues through direct bilateral talks, mediated by the United States. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will restore effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure.
This will enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to progressively redeploy out of Lebanese territory. The LAF will gradually assume full and effective security responsibility in pilot zones, serving as a mechanism for phased and verified redeployments of the IDF and deployments of the LAF. Two initial zones have been agreed upon, with future zones to be mutually consented.
Upon confirmation of the disarmament of non-state armed groups, notably Hezbollah, the LAF will assume full security responsibility in these zones. Internationally supported reconstruction efforts will begin, allowing Lebanese civilians to safely return to areas under exclusive control of Lebanese state authorities. The United States intends to work closely with both countries to verify and support this process.
Commitments and Future Steps
Lebanon's government reaffirms its commitment to restoring full sovereignty over its territory, rebuilding the state's monopoly on the use of force, achieving the complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensuring these groups have no military or security role or armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon.
Lebanon requests support from international and Arab partners, under the leadership of the United States, to achieve these goals. Israel and Lebanon are to establish working groups to draft a comprehensive peace and security agreement and immediately engage in ongoing direct talks, facilitated by the United States.
Israel states that its military actions in Lebanon are solely a consequence of attacks and threats posed by non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. Termination of this threat, through disarmament and additional security arrangements, will eliminate any future necessity for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon. Israel also declares it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
