Marco Rubio announced the framework agreement on the fourth day of the fifth round of talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and of course the government of Israel, with a mediation and support of the United States of America,\u201d the US secretary of state said at the signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
The agreement \u201cbegins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security,\u201d Mr Rubio added.<\/p>\n
The memorandum of understanding signed by Donald Trump<\/a> earlier this month called for the \u201cimmediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon\u201d.<\/p>\n However Israel has repeatedly criticised the deal, with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel\u2019s prime minister, saying the IDF would remain in areas it occupied in southern Lebanon<\/a>. Both sides have since continued to exchange strikes despite condemnation from the US and Iran.<\/p>\n Yechiel Leiter, Israel\u2019s ambassador to the US, said the trilateral framework is \u201cperformance based\u201d, suggesting that the framework will depend on the implementation of commitments on both sides.<\/p>\n Signing the deal: Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, Daniel Holler, the US state department chief of staff, and Nada Hamadeh, the Lebanese ambassador to the US – Saul Loeb\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n The two pilot areas for withdrawal are located on opposite sides of the Litani River.<\/p>\n Israeli and US officials said the US military will work alongside the Lebanese army to monitor the deployments and verify that Hezbollah fighters are not present in the designated zones.<\/p>\n The areas have already been cleared by the IDF of Hezbollah infrastructure.<\/p>\n But Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said Israel has \u201cno option but to withdraw completely from every inch of our Lebanese land,\u201d and that its forces \u201cmust leave unconditionally.\u201d<\/p>\n Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, however said Israel has no plans to do so until Hezbollah gives up its weapons.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is, first of all, that Israel remains in the security zone in southern Lebanon. This is a major achievement, and we will maintain it as long as Hezbollah has not disarmed,\u201d he said in a video shared with Israeli media.![\"Signing](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0afd49caafa72782232bebb70b2d0339.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The withdrawal, though minor in scope, marks the first Israeli retreat since it expanded its presence in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n