Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington, D.C. on June 26, 2026, brokered by the United States, committing Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon while both nations formally recognize each other’s sovereignty.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the deal as the “beginning of the beginning” for peace between the two countries. Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh signed on behalf of their respective governments.
What the deal actually says
The framework has three core pillars. First, Israel commits to withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon. Second, both countries formally recognize each other’s sovereignty. Third, the ceasefire is contingent on Hezbollah ceasing fire and evacuating from the South Litani Sector.
Iran was notably excluded from these negotiations. The agreement is a direct government-to-government affair, deliberately sidestepping proxy involvement, positioning the deal as a mechanism to restore Lebanese sovereignty in the south without giving Iran a seat at the table.
