Israel, Lebanon, and US Sign Trilateral Framework Agreement to End War and Disarm Hezbollah

The United States, Israel, and Lebanon signed a trilateral framework agreement in Washington on Friday, marking a formal diplomatic effort to end months of devastating war. Brokered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the pact outlines a phased, performance-based approach to restoring Lebanese sovereignty, disarming Hezbollah, and enabling an eventual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.[2]

The signing ceremony at the State Department featured Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh, who both framed the accord as a critical first step toward long-term stability. "In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in," Leiter stated during the announcement.

A central pillar of the agreement is the creation of two "pilot zones"—one situated south of the Litani River and one to the north. Within these designated areas, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are mandated to assume exclusive security control, explicitly barring all non-state actors, including Hezbollah, from operating or maintaining weapons caches.[1]

To support this ambitious security transition, the United States announced intentions to bolster the fighting capacity and logistical capabilities of the Lebanese military. Additionally, Washington pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance, which will be coordinated through the United Nations to aid communities devastated by the recent fighting.

The primary obstacle to the framework's success is Hezbollah itself, which was not a party to the negotiations in Washington. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem swiftly rejected the proposal, demanding a full, unconditional Israeli withdrawal and a comprehensive ceasefire before any internal security arrangements or disarmament protocols are discussed.[1][2]

Hezbollah maintains that previous diplomatic agreements and United Nations resolutions only require the disarmament of its forces south of the Litani River. The militant group has warned that attempting to disarm its operatives nationwide fulfills "the enemy's objectives" and has vowed to continue its resistance operations as long as Israeli troops remain on Lebanese soil.[1]

On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the framework as a "major achievement" but clarified that Israeli forces will not immediately vacate Lebanese territory. Netanyahu emphasized that the IDF intends to remain in its declared security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah's military infrastructure is verifiably dismantled and the group poses no further threat to northern Israel.

The diplomatic push follows a brutal escalation that began in early March 2026, triggered by Hezbollah rocket fire in the wake of a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The ensuing Israeli ground invasion of southern Lebanon and intense aerial bombardment have left over 4,000 people dead, devastated civilian infrastructure, and displaced more than a million residents.[3]

The agreement places immense pressure on the Lebanese government and its armed forces. While Beirut has previously vowed to establish a state monopoly on weapons, Lebanese authorities have long feared that attempting to forcibly disarm Hezbollah could fracture the military and ignite a devastating civil war, given the group's deep integration into the country's political and social fabric.[2]

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to hold follow-up meetings the week of June 22 to negotiate the specific boundaries and implementation timeline of the pilot zones. Meanwhile, the fragile cessation of hostilities faces immediate tests on the ground, with both the IDF and Hezbollah reporting sporadic clashes and drone activity near the Ali al-Taher Ridge.[1][3]