Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Ekiel Leiter, speaks next to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, State Department Counselor Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh during a meeting at the State Department on June 26, 2026, in Washington, DC.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Israel and Lebanon have reached a framework agreement aimed at achieving “lasting peace and security.”
The agreement was reached as a result of US-mediated talks and calls for a ceasefire between the two countries.
The ceasefire is conditional on a complete cessation of firing by the Hezbollah militia and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives from South Litani, an area in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah was not a party to Friday’s agreement. It is unclear whether the group will abide by the ceasefire.
However, an end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon is considered crucial to reaching a lasting peace deal between the United States and Iran, which backs Hezbollah.
The United States and Israel began a war against Iran in late February. The United States has reached a memorandum of understanding with Iran that will suspend the conflict for at least 60 days while peace negotiations proceed.
“Today is a good day as I am pleased to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and, of course, the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America, to begin putting in place a framework for lasting peace and security,” Rubio said.
“And that’s what both countries deserve,” he said.
“The two countries agreed to U.S. guidance to expedite the creation of a test zone where the Lebanese Armed Forces would have exclusive control of the territory, excluding all non-state actors,” the State Department said in a statement.
“These steps will enable progress toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the State Department said.
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