
US, Israel, and Lebanon Sign Trilateral Framework in Washington
The United States, Israel, and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington on Friday, June 26, following several days of talks aimed at ending the fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the framework, cautioning that there is a great deal of work still ahead. He said the agreement establishes a clear process to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah, and dismantle its infrastructure. Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, described the trilateral framework as performance-based.
The agreement allows Israel to return to its borders once the threat to its citizens has been removed, and it creates a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon, facilitated by the United States. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the development in a video message late Friday night, calling it a major achievement for the State of Israel. He affirmed that Israel will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon and announced plans to coordinate with the Lebanese army over two pilot zones. Turning to Tehran, Netanyahu declared that Iran no longer has a role in Lebanon and that the matter is none of its business.
Netanyahu emphasized that the IDF will maintain the original security zone and that Israel’s security comes first. Hezbollah, however, signaled defiance, with lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah claiming Lebanese authorities could not enforce the framework and vowing the group would cling to its weapons. The conflict erupted on March 2, when Hezbollah fired on Israel days after the United States and Israel struck Iran, triggering Israeli air and ground operations. Israel’s losses in this round include at least 32 soldiers and four civilians, while several thousand Hezbollah fighters have been killed.
(JPost/VFI News)
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9