Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz stated on Saturday that the framework agreement signed with Lebanon and the United States constitutes a “strategic blow to the Iranian axis” and that no Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon will occur before Hezbollah is disarmed. According to his remarks, carried by multiple regional outlets, Israeli troops will maintain positions in a security zone — including the Beaufort Castle heights — that is to be kept free of population and Hezbollah infrastructure, with the military retaining freedom of action to pre-empt threats against soldiers and northern Israeli communities.

Viewed from Israel, the accord establishes a new security reality on the northern border for the first time in decades. Katz described the signing as a “historic event” and a political-security achievement, asserting that the future of Lebanon “will no longer be dictated by Iran or Hezbollah.” He added that the framework explicitly conditions any Israeli repositioning or withdrawal on the complete disarmament of Hezbollah across all of Lebanon, a principle he said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he are committed to enforcing. The Israeli military has been directed to prepare for a prolonged stay in the security zone.

In Washington, the agreement was presented as a first step. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the signing ceremony, said the framework was worthy of both nations, which he described as having suffered from foreign interference, and acknowledged that “much work remains.” The US mediated at least five rounds of direct and indirect talks between the parties. The Lebanese government’s signature on the document signals a formal endorsement, though the text’s details have not been made public.

Hezbollah and Iran immediately rejected the accord. Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem called the agreement “void” and equated it to a surrender by the Lebanese state. From Tehran, the deal is viewed as part of an American-Israeli conspiracy to weaken the “axis of resistance” and disarm Hezbollah. Iranian officials, according to Israeli and regional reports, had attempted to pressure Washington to force an Israeli withdrawal and have said they will not accept any agreement that does not entail a full Israeli pullout from Lebanese territory. Katz warned that if Iran attacks Israel to obstruct implementation, Israel would respond “with great force.”

The implementation phase is now the central test. Katz acknowledged “many challenges” remain, and the Israeli military is preparing for an extended deployment. With Hezbollah and Iran opposed and the Lebanese state’s capacity to enforce disarmament uncertain, the framework’s translation into durable security arrangements remains an open question. The next concrete steps are expected to involve US-led monitoring mechanisms and further negotiations on the modalities of the security zone and disarmament verification.