The US – Israel – Lebanon signed a trilateral agreement

The document signed on June 26 is the result of 5 rounds of negotiations in the US capital Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the agreement will begin to establish a framework for “lasting peace and security”, but noted that this is only “the beginning of the beginning” and there is much work ahead.

Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad said this is the first step on the journey to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, permanently ending fighting and creating conditions for the country’s people to return home.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter announced that “Iran and Hezbollah have been eliminated”, and the path to peace between Israel and Lebanon “is being opened”.

According to the content of the agreement announced by the US State Department, Israel and Lebanon “declared their intention to completely end the conflict, resolve the root causes, thereby officially ending all states of war between the two sides.”

The agreement also establishes a process for the Lebanese army to restore control over the entire country, pending the “verifiable disarmament of non-state armed groups”, especially Hezbollah. That would allow the Israeli military to “gradually withdraw from Lebanese territory”.

Despite the above agreement, Israel and the armed group Hezbollah still clearly show that there are still major differences in views between the two sides. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem announced on June 26 that Tel Aviv had “no other choice” but to completely withdraw from Lebanese territory, adding that the Israeli army must leave “unconditionally”.

In a pre-recorded video shared with the press shortly after the agreement was announced, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel has no plans to withdraw from Lebanon until Hezbollah gives up its weapons.

Before the content of the agreement was announced, Mr. Netanyahu said Israeli forces would allow the Lebanese army to take over control of territory in two “pilot areas”, south and north of the Litani River, respectively.

According to the content of the agreement, the Lebanese army will “fully and effectively assume security responsibilities in the above areas, the reconstruction process with the support of the international community will begin and the Lebanese people will be able to return to these areas safely.”

Secretary of State Rubio said the agreement will help establish a clear, structured process for disarming Hezbollah and the armed group’s infrastructure. He added that a US-supported military working group would help implement the agreement.

Washington will commit to providing $100 million in humanitarian aid in coordination with the United Nations, as well as repaying $30 million to the Lebanese army with the goal of “improving the capabilities” of this force.

Lebanon has been dragged into the Middle East conflict since March 2, when the armed group Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli territory in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel airstrike campaign.

Israel responded by launching air strikes across Lebanon and sending troops into the south of the neighboring country.