Lebanon and Israel just put pen to paper on what might be the most consequential Middle Eastern security agreement in years. The trilateral framework, co-signed with the United States in Washington, establishes a sequenced process for Israel’s military withdrawal from southern Lebanon, contingent on the verified disarmament of Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups operating in the region.
What the framework actually says
The agreement, signed on June 26, 2026, builds on the cessation of hostilities that took hold in November 2024. It draws heavily from UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the 2006 measure that called for the disarmament of non-state armed groups in Lebanon but was never fully implemented.
Under the framework, the Lebanese Armed Forces will gradually assume sovereignty over key areas in southern Lebanon, starting with designated pilot zones. As the LAF moves in, the Israel Defense Forces redeploy outward. The sequencing is deliberate: no withdrawal without corresponding disarmament, no disarmament without corresponding LAF deployment.
A Military Coordination Group, backed by the US, will serve as the implementation watchdog alongside a non-public security annex. The framework also lacks a specific timeline for full Israeli withdrawal.
