Israel and Lebanon sign landmark framework agreement as Hezbollah rejects deal

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1 month · 7 summary articles
Israel and Lebanon signed a landmark 14-point framework agreement in Washington on Friday, marking the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in years amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The deal, brokered by the United States, envisions a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah, though the militant group has already rejected the accord and vowed to continue its armed resistance.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the framework agreement at the State Department, where Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador to the U.S. Nada Hamadeh formally signed the document . The accord was described as a potential step toward restoring full Lebanese sovereignty over all territory, enabling displaced residents to return to their homes under exclusive state authority, according to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun .
However, the agreement faces immediate challenges. Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut on Friday evening to protest the deal, with the group’s leadership warning that compliance would risk civil war . The militant group has dismissed the framework as a capitulation to Israeli demands and reiterated its refusal to disarm, complicating efforts to implement the accord .
Disputes over the scope of Israel’s withdrawal have also emerged. Lebanon insists on a complete pullout from all occupied villages and towns, while Israel has signaled a partial withdrawal, excluding contested areas such as the Yellow Line and Beaufort Castle . The fifth round of U.S.-mediated talks in Washington was extended due to these disagreements, with a senior Lebanese official telling Anadolu that any deal must include a full Israeli withdrawal within a defined timetable .
The framework agreement comes despite continued violence, including an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Beit Yahoun on Thursday, which violated a fragile ceasefire as negotiations concluded . Meanwhile, the U.S. launched strikes on Iranian missile storage sites in retaliation for escalating tensions, further complicating the diplomatic landscape .
Lebanese President Aoun framed the agreement as the first step toward restoring full sovereignty, but the path to lasting peace remains uncertain. The deal’s success hinges on whether Israel and Lebanon can bridge their differences—and whether Hezbollah’s rejectionism can be overcome.
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