Israel, Lebanon reach framework deal; US mediator says agreement is 'first step' toward peace, releases text
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday (local time) that the United States had brokered a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon designed
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday (local time) that the United States had brokered a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon designed to promote “lasting peace and security”. Under the agreement, a ceasefire would take effect if Hezbollah halts all attacks and withdraws from southern Lebanon. The US State Department released the text of the agreement that was finalised earlier in Washington, DC, reported Al Jazeera. According to the second provision of the agreement, the governments of Israel and Lebanon “commit to a reciprocal, sequences process” under which the Lebanese military “will restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory”. The agreement states that this process depends on “the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure, enabling the [Israeli army] to progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory”. What did Rubio say? In a post on X, the Department of State quoted Rubio as saying, “SECRETARY RUBIO: We're happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America.” According to Fox News, Rubio mentioned rebuilding trust and stability would require significant effort and time, but described the agreement as the first and most difficult step toward that goal.
He added that Israel's people deserve to live in peace and security. “The people of northern Israel in particular, who have been targeted repeatedly by terrorist attacks launched from the territory of Lebanon, but not by the Lebanese people, not by the Lebanese government, but by an outside actor who has sought to use that territory to target innocent civilians who have been unable to live in these places for a long time,” he added. Also Read | War in Lebanon casts shadow over renewed Iran-US nuclear talks Rubio said the constant threat of attacks had repeatedly disrupted everyday life, forcing people to interrupt school, work, and other activities to seek shelter in bunkers or basements. He described the agreement as the start of a long and challenging process, acknowledging that much work remained while stressing its importance. Rubio noted that the United States was honoured to have helped bring the agreement together. Israel, Lebanon react Lebanon's Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh, expressed appreciation to the leaders for convening the talks.
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