The United States has announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at advancing a ceasefire and laying the groundwork for long-term peace and security along their shared border.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the agreement on Friday, describing it as the beginning of a broader process to restore stability in the region. The framework reportedly links a ceasefire to the cessation of hostilities by Hezbollah and the group’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Rubio Calls Deal A First Step Towards Peace

Announcing the agreement, Rubio said the United States had mediated discussions between the two governments and would continue supporting efforts to implement the framework.

“We’re happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America,” Rubio said.

He acknowledged that significant challenges remained but described the accord as an important starting point.

“And it will take a lot of work and some time to get back to that point, but we believe today is the first step in that journey. And the first step is sometimes the hardest step, but it’s the one we’re taking together today,” he said.

Rubio stressed that residents of northern Israel had endured years of insecurity due to attacks launched from Lebanese territory.

He said the violence had been carried out not by the Lebanese people or government but by “an outside actor” that had used Lebanese territory to target civilians.

Ceasefire Linked To Hezbollah Withdrawal

According to the framework, a ceasefire would be contingent upon Hezbollah ending all attacks and withdrawing from southern Lebanon.

Rubio said restoring normalcy for communities affected by the conflict remained a priority.

“Every time a siren goes off, you have to stop your schoolwork, you have to wake up, you have to stop going to work and you have to run into a bunker or a basement and protect yourself,” he said.

While emphasising the difficulties that lie ahead, Rubio added, “It’s the beginning of the beginning. There is a lot of work ahead and we don’t in any way underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead. But we understand the importance of it, how vital it is.”

Lebanon Welcomes Diplomatic Breakthrough

Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh, described the agreement as the result of extensive negotiations and cooperation among all parties involved.

“This was a long and difficult meeting. We are grateful to the host and to the two delegations for their cooperation during these talks,” she said.

Hamadeh credited Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Ambassador Karam and the Lebanese Armed Forces for helping make the agreement possible.

She described the accord as an important milestone achieved through sustained diplomatic efforts and national commitment.

Israel Praises US Role In Negotiations

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, thanked Rubio and the US negotiating team for their role in securing the framework agreement.

He said the deal represented progress towards US President Donald Trump’s vision of “peace through strength” and described it as a significant diplomatic achievement.

“We’ve advanced a historical and important process forward,” Leiter said.

Referring to concerns that negotiations could have collapsed, he added, “With a lot of hard work under your leadership, together with Secretary Rubio and his entire staff, we’ve put the train back on the tracks and it’s running in the right direction.”

Leiter also paid tribute to residents of northern Israel and members of the Israel Defense Forces, saying their resilience had contributed to the progress achieved during negotiations.

Focus On Regional Stability

In a statement, the US Department of State said Israel and Lebanon possess deep historical and cultural roots but have endured decades of conflict fuelled by armed groups and regional rivalries.

The department said terrorist organisations and proxy forces had undermined Lebanon’s sovereignty, launched attacks against Israel and contributed to instability across the Middle East.

The newly announced framework is intended to provide a pathway towards reducing tensions and strengthening security for both countries, although officials from all sides acknowledged that implementing the agreement will require sustained diplomatic engagement and cooperation in the months ahead.

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