U.S.-Brokered Israel–Lebanon Framework Signed in Washington

Overview

• The tripartite framework was signed in Washington on Friday, June 26, and outlines a process for the Lebanese Armed Forces to regain control of territory and for Israel to withdraw progressively if non-state armed groups are verifiably disarmed.
• The U.S. announced immediate support after the signing, pledging about $100 million in humanitarian aid coordinated with the UN and more than $30 million in assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
• Hezbollah leaders rejected the agreement as illegitimate and supporters staged protests and roadblocks in Beirut, with senior deputies warning the plan could provoke internal conflict and vowing to resist disarmament.
• Hostilities have continued since the signing: Israel carried out new strikes in southern Lebanon targeting suspected Hezbollah fighters, and the United States and Iran exchanged fresh strikes tied to the Strait of Hormuz, prompting planned talks in Qatar.
• Major obstacles to implementation include a politically fractured Lebanese state, limited capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces to disarm entrenched militias, Iran’s continued leverage over Hezbollah, and safeguards tying reconstruction funds to strict anti-diversion controls that will be hard to verify on the ground.