On 26 June 2026, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement in Washington under US auspices, comprising 14 public clauses and a confidential security annex. The accord aims to end Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon and restore Lebanese sovereignty, but the annex, whose existence was confirmed by Israeli media, stipulates that Israeli withdrawals will not follow a fixed timetable. Instead, pullbacks are contingent on field conditions and Israeli consent, while the Israel Defense Forces retain freedom of action within a designated “yellow line” to counter immediate threats. The Lebanese government requested the annex remain secret, according to Israeli reports, to forestall domestic challenges from Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented the agreement as a political achievement, asserting that Lebanon had recognised Israel’s right to maintain a buffer zone as long as security threats persist. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir called it “historic” and credited recent military operations for creating its foundations. However, opposition leader Yair Lapid criticised the deal as a withdrawal without tangible gains, and Israeli media noted that the military is planning for a prolonged presence in Lebanon, with some analysts questioning the feasibility of implementation. From Beirut, the Lebanese state framed the accord as a step to reclaim sovereign decision-making, but it faces immediate pushback from Hezbollah and its allies, who denounce the framework as a capitulation and insist on adherence to the parallel US-Iran memorandum of understanding. Hezbollah has reportedly severed contact with the presidency, and its officials accuse the state of treason, while the Lebanese army, tasked with deploying to pilot zones, described its mission as extremely difficult.

Western diplomatic sources, cited in Lebanese media, expressed surprise at Lebanon’s consent, arguing that the terms heavily favour Israel and that implementation under current conditions is improbable. They warned that failure could trigger a third round of war as early as September. The secret annex, as detailed by Israeli outlets, provides that no automatic withdrawals will occur; only two pilot areas are currently designated, and any expansion requires Israeli approval. The Lebanese army’s entry into these zones is expected to take weeks. This architecture effectively conditions the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty on Hezbollah’s disarmament, a process that Israeli officials acknowledge will not happen quickly, while granting Israel unilateral operational latitude.

The framework is not a final peace treaty but an experimental mechanism subject to evaluation. Its fate is intertwined with the broader US-Iran understanding, which includes a clause on Lebanon. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Qalibaf, after briefing Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri, reportedly pledged that Tehran would not finalise any deal with Washington unless the Lebanon clause is honoured, and that Iran is prepared for any scenario. A new multilateral meeting involving Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, the United States and Pakistan is expected to convene shortly, likely in Qatar, to discuss the mechanism. Meanwhile, the domestic rift between Hezbollah and the Lebanese presidency deepens, and the coming weeks will test whether the framework can move from signature to sustained implementation without reigniting hostilities.