Abdallah II and Rubio discuss Lebanon-Israel framework agreement and Hezbollah disarmament

BEIRUT — Jordan's King Abdallah II and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Lebanon, including a framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv and Hezbollah's disarmament during a phone call on Friday, according to official Jordanian and U.S. statements.

The two officials' discussions on these issues were not detailed by the Jordanian royal palace, the U.S. Embassy in Amman or the Jordanian Embassy in Washington. On Monday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam emphasized to Marco Rubio the importance of establishing a "clear timetable" for implementing the framework agreement, as negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have stalled for several months and Israeli attacks continue in southern Lebanon.

Support for the Lebanese Army

Following a preparatory meeting for the conference in support of the Lebanese army held in Paris on Sept. 17, Abdallah II also discussed with the U.S. official "the results of the recent Aqaba process meetings in France, which focused on ways to mobilize international support for the Lebanese army and strengthen its capabilities to safeguard Lebanon's security and stability."

At the meeting, Jordan was the only country, aside from France and Lebanon, represented at the highest level. For over a year now, the Lebanese government has taken steps to disarm Hezbollah.

More broadly, Abdallah II stressed the need to "reach an agreement on a comprehensive cease-fire to ensure the security and sovereignty of Arab states," while highlighting "the central role of the United States in supporting efforts to achieve regional stability," according to the Jordanian royal palace. In this context, he again denounced "the consequences of the Israeli escalation in southern Syria," reaffirming that Jordan stands alongside Syria in its efforts to strengthen its security, stability and territorial sovereignty. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Israel has intermittently striking Syria and expanding its presence in south, moving closer to Jordan's northern border.

The phone call came more than a week after the Jordanian king's widely noted speech at the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, during which he denounced Israel's actions in Palestine, as well as in Lebanon and Syria. "The international community must not assume that Israel's ambitions end with Palestine ... It is driven by expansionist appetite that makes it a regional threat," he declared, calling for sanctions against the Israel.

Since the start of the regional war last February, Jordan — like Saudi Arabia and other powers in the region — appears increasingly concerned about the prospect of Israeli hegemony in the Middle East.