Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26, 2026 aimed at finding "lasting peace" between the two countries, with Israel stating its army would remain in Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. The text lays the first stone of "a framework for lasting peace and security," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the signing.
It is "a first step" toward restoring Lebanon's sovereignty, without "occupation," "subordination," or "tutelage," said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah said the text risked triggering "civil war" if implemented by the Lebanese authorities. One of the key points is the "verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and the dismantling of their associated infrastructure," including Hezbollah, which opposes the negotiations.
Find the framework agreement here.
Lebanon and Israel had begun direct talks in Washington in mid-April, the first in decades between the two countries that are technically still in a state of war.
Fnd the history of Lebanon-Israel relations here.
The framework agreement signed on June 26 provides in particular for the Lebanese Army to progressively take control of two "pilot zones" — which Hezbollah and Nabih Berri oppose — with the intention of expanding them until state forces control all relevant sectors, eventually allowing civilians to return. However, the Israeli withdrawal is expected to be limited, as Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that his army would remain in south Lebanon until Hezbollah "is disarmed."
Under the framework agreement, the United States will more broadly support the Lebanese government for the country's reconstruction, economic recovery, and "prospects for prosperity." For its part, Beirut commits to ensuring funds do not end up in the hands of armed groups or affiliated entities.
The agreement comes after a new war between Israel and Hezbollah triggered by Hezbollah rocket fire toward Israel in support of Tehran, which was targeted by an Israeli-American military offensive in late February 2026. The Israeli army carried out extensive air strikes on Lebanon and deployed troops in the South, killing more than 4,200 people according to Lebanese authorities. It occupies a zone roughly ten kilometers deep from its border, an area in which dozens of Lebanese villages have been completely destroyed.
