Israel, Lebanon and U.S. Sign Framework Agreement; Israeli Forces to Remain Until Hezbollah Disarms

Israel, Lebanon and the United States signed a trilateral framework agreement in Washington on Friday. The 14-point document establishes two pilot zones north and south of the Litani River where Lebanese forces will assume exclusive control as Israeli troops withdraw from limited areas. It also creates a trilateral Military Coordination Group to oversee implementation.

The United States will provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance coordinated with the United Nations and is prepared to reimburse the Lebanese Armed Forces with more than $30 million. The agreement includes a process aimed at disarming Hezbollah and is the result of five rounds of talks in the US capital.

Israel will maintain a security zone along the boundaries of the yellow line, which marks seized territory stretching some 10 km into Lebanon from the Israeli border.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military has been ordered to prepare for an extended stay in southern Lebanon and will not withdraw unless Hezbollah is disarmed throughout Lebanon under the terms of the agreement. Hezbollah, which was not part of the negotiations, said it would not abide by those conditions.

Conflict with Iran on February 28. More than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since March, while at least 37 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Lebanon or northern Israel. On the day of the signing, an Israeli air raid reportedly killed two people in Mayfadoun, strikes hit Nabatieh al-Fawqa, and leaflets were dropped in al-Mansouri ordering residents to leave.