Lebanon, Israel and US sign trilateral framework pact

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Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a new framework agreement after four days of marathon talks in Washington, DC, brokered by the United States, according to reports from Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The trilateral signing took place on June 26, 2026, at the US State Department, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Israel's Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanon's Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad participating. The deal, which follows five rounds of negotiations, is intended to pave the way for a lasting peace between the two adversaries, as reported by RFI – English and TASS – English.

The agreement comes against the backdrop of a conflict that erupted on March 2, following Hezbollah's rocket fire into Israel, which was described as retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes. Israel responded with a ground invasion, and its forces continue to occupy swaths of southern Lebanon, where they have conducted extensive demolitions of homes and buildings, as noted by Al Jazeera and RFI – English.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the agreement varies across the outlets. Al Jazeera focused on the agreement's contentious aspects, highlighting Hezbollah's rejection and street protests in Beirut. The Jerusalem Post emphasized regional implications, particularly the UAE's hopeful perspective, and detailed the agreement's terms from Israel's vantage point. RFI – English and TASS – English provided neutral descriptions of the agreement's provisions, drawing on official statements and the document's text.

Al Jazeera's reporting was critical, describing the deal as not specifically calling for Israeli withdrawal and tying it to Hezbollah's disarmament—a condition the armed group has repeatedly rejected. The outlet quoted Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejecting the agreement as "null and void." The Jerusalem Post, in contrast, framed the agreement as a significant achievement, with Israeli officials expressing optimism that it would lead to stability. The outlet also highlighted the UAE's view that the deal is a step toward restoring Lebanon's sovereignty.

RFI – English and TASS – English presented the agreement's mechanics without editorializing, focusing on the sequenced process, the pilot zones, and the commitment to ending the conflict. These outlets also noted the US's role, including a $100 million humanitarian assistance commitment, as reported by RFI – English.

Key Claims

The framework agreement establishes a "sequenced process" whereby the Lebanese Armed Forces will restore "effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups"—a clear reference to Hezbollah, according to the State Department text cited by Al Jazeera and TASS – English. The deal does not mandate Israeli withdrawal from the fifth of Lebanese land it occupies; rather, it states that Israel shall "progressively redeploy" out of Lebanon, with two "pilot zones" where Lebanese soldiers will take control, as reported by multiple outlets.

Israel's withdrawal is conditional on Hezbollah's removal from southern Lebanon, a point made explicit in the Jerusalem Post's reporting. The agreement also includes a pilot effort to disarm Hezbollah and a process for the Lebanese Armed Forces to restore sovereignty, as detailed by RFI – English and TASS – English. The US will commit $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the United Nations, according to RFI – English.

The agreement aims to "conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and formally conclude any state of war between them," as quoted by TASS – English and RFI – English. An annex, developed with US support, will set forth the requisite measures, security arrangements, and verification mechanisms to advance this process, as reported by TASS – English.

Despite the deal's goals, Hezbollah's leadership has rejected it, and protests erupted in Beirut on Friday evening, with demonstrators waving Hezbollah flags and expressing anger that the agreement does not force Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas, according to Al Jazeera. Some protesters, like Ali Zaytoun, a resident of Beirut's southern suburbs, voiced deep personal grievances, saying the agreement does not reflect the justice or respect that those who lived through the war deserve, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Hezbollah: Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected the framework agreement outright, calling it "null and void," and reiterated the group's demand that Israel first end its occupation of Lebanese territory. Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut to voice their opposition, with some critics arguing the deal fails to address the destruction and displacement caused by Israel's military actions, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Israel: Israeli officials, including Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, expressed optimism about the agreement, framing it as a step toward peace. Leiter stated that under the deal, "Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in," as quoted by RFI – English. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli defense officials believe the agreement adequately addresses Israel's operational and security requirements.

Lebanon: Lebanon's Ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, called the accord "a first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to RFI – English. Lebanese citizens, however, expressed anger and grief, with protesters in Beirut rejecting the agreement as insufficient, as detailed by Al Jazeera.

United Arab Emirates (and Gulf states): The UAE, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, views the agreement as a step toward restoring Lebanon's sovereignty and is hopeful it will contribute to regional stability. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, noted that the agreement could help pave the way for broader peace in the region, potentially resolving the issue of the Gulf as well.