Washington released the text of a trilateral framework on Friday, outlining a U.S.-backed effort by Israel and Lebanon to end ongoing hostilities that have become a violent second front in the Middle East conflict. Here are the principal points of the 14‑point agreement signed in Washington, D.C.:
1. Commitment to Lasting Peace
The agreement opens by affirming that Israel and Lebanon, with United States support, share the goal of achieving lasting peace and security. The two neighboring states declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and formally conclude any state of war between them.
2. Verified Disarmament
The framework commits the parties to making irreversible progress on all issues through direct bilateral talks facilitated by the United States. The Lebanese Armed Forces will restore effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non‑state armed groups and the dismantling of associated infrastructure. This will allow the Israel Defense Forces to progressively withdraw from Lebanese territory, with detailed steps and verification mechanisms to be defined.
3. Pilot Zones
The Lebanese Armed Forces will gradually assume full security responsibility in designated pilot zones, which will serve as the mechanism for phased and verified redeployments of the IDF and deployments of the LAF. Two initial zones have been agreed upon, with future zones to be settled by mutual consent. Once the disarmament of non‑state armed groups—most notably Iran‑backed Hezbollah—is confirmed, the LAF will take complete security control. The agreement also pledges that internationally supported reconstruction will begin and Lebanese civilians can safely return under exclusive control of Lebanese authorities, with U.S. assistance in verification.
4. Working Groups
Lebanon reaffirms its commitment to restoring full state sovereignty and rebuilding its monopoly on the use of force, achieving the complete and verified disarmament of all non‑state armed groups, and ensuring these groups have no military or security role or capabilities anywhere in the country. Lebanon seeks support from international and especially Arab partners, under U.S. leadership, to accomplish this. Israel and Lebanon will also form working groups to draft a comprehensive peace and security agreement and establish complementary tracks of ongoing direct engagement facilitated by the United States.
5. No Territorial Ambitions
Israel states that its military actions in Lebanon were solely a response to attacks, threats, and hostile intent from non‑state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. The termination of this threat—through disarmament of such groups and additional security arrangements to be agreed upon—will eliminate any future need for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon. The Government of Israel also declares that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon.
