US announces framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon
✓DEVELOPING STORY,
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the deal after talks unfolded in Washington, DC.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a deal framework between Lebanon and Israel after negotiations in Washington, DC.
Details about the agreement remain scarce. But in his remarks on Friday, Rubio made clear that the deal was only the “first step” in further negotiations.
“It’s the beginning of the beginning,” Rubio said, surrounded by representatives from both Lebanon and Israel.
“There’s a lot of work ahead. We don’t in any way underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead, but we understand the importance of it, how vital it is.”
The two sides had gathered in Washington, DC, for four days of US-mediated talks this week, starting on Tuesday.
Ongoing fighting in Lebanon has threatened to disrupt efforts to forge a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
On June 17, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bring to a halt the US-Israeli war against Iran. That 14-point document required “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
But Israel has occupied nearly a fifth of Lebanon, and it continued to bombard the country after the memorandum was signed.
Last Friday, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire, but Israeli troops remain stationed in southern Lebanon, and while its attacks have lessened, they have not stopped.
The Lebanese group Hezbollah has since called on Israel to withdraw from the country as a necessary condition for peace. “Israel must leave unconditionally,” Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said.
The continued fighting in Lebanon has become a growing source of tension between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who is facing domestic backlash over the war against Iran.
Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he called Netanyahu “crazy”, though he has insisted the Israeli leader is a “very good man” with whom he has an “amazing partnership”.
“We have a little dispute over Lebanon,” Trump said at the Group of 7 (G7) summit in France last week. “You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah.”
He then encouraged Netanyahu to adopt a “softer touch” in approaching Lebanon.
“They could do a much better job with Hezbollah on that. I don’t think they’re doing well. And I feel very bad for Lebanon,” Trump added.
In Friday’s news conference, Rubio echoed that message of concern for Lebanon.
“The people of Lebanon have suffered tremendously now for decades as a result of outside interference in their affairs, of countries trying to use the country as a launchpad for attacks,” he said. “This is not what the people of Lebanon want, and that’s not what they deserve.”
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon on Friday following four days of negotiations in Washington, DC. Rubio stated the agreement represents "the beginning of the beginning" and acknowledged significant work remains in further negotiations. The announcement comes as Israel maintains military presence in southern Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement reached last week, though Israeli military operations have continued at reduced intensity. The framework emerged amid documented tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Trump regarding the scope of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. The negotiations are situated within a broader June memorandum between the US and Iran that required termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Hezbollah has stated Israeli withdrawal is a necessary condition for peace.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗
DEVELOPING STORY,
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the deal after talks unfolded in Washington, DC.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a deal framework between Lebanon and Israel after negotiations in Washington, DC.
Details about the agreement remain scarce. But in his remarks on Friday, Rubio made clear that the deal was only the “first step” in further negotiations.
“It’s the beginning of the beginning,” Rubio said, surrounded by representatives from both Lebanon and Israel.
“There’s a lot of work ahead. We don’t in any way underestimate the difficulty of the task ahead, but we understand the importance of it, how vital it is.”
The two sides had gathered in Washington, DC, for four days of US-mediated talks this week, starting on Tuesday.
Ongoing fighting in Lebanon has threatened to disrupt efforts to forge a ceasefire between Iran and the US.
On June 17, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to bring to a halt the US-Israeli war against Iran. That 14-point document required “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
But Israel has occupied nearly a fifth of Lebanon, and it continued to bombard the country after the memorandum was signed.
Last Friday, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire, but Israeli troops remain stationed in southern Lebanon, and while its attacks have lessened, they have not stopped.
The Lebanese group Hezbollah has since called on Israel to withdraw from the country as a necessary condition for peace. “Israel must leave unconditionally,” Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said.
The continued fighting in Lebanon has become a growing source of tension between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, who is facing domestic backlash over the war against Iran.
Earlier this month, Trump confirmed he called Netanyahu “crazy”, though he has insisted the Israeli leader is a “very good man” with whom he has an “amazing partnership”.
“We have a little dispute over Lebanon,” Trump said at the Group of 7 (G7) summit in France last week. “You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah.”
He then encouraged Netanyahu to adopt a “softer touch” in approaching Lebanon.
“They could do a much better job with Hezbollah on that. I don’t think they’re doing well. And I feel very bad for Lebanon,” Trump added.
In Friday’s news conference, Rubio echoed that message of concern for Lebanon.
“The people of Lebanon have suffered tremendously now for decades as a result of outside interference in their affairs, of countries trying to use the country as a launchpad for attacks,” he said. “This is not what the people of Lebanon want, and that’s not what they deserve.”
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon after four days of negotiations in Washington, DC Rubio stated the deal represents 'the beginning of the beginning' and characterized it as the 'first step' in further negotiations Representatives from both Israel and Lebanon were present at Rubio's announcement on Friday A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was agreed last week Israeli troops remain stationed in southern Lebanon following the ceasefire, and Israeli military operations have continued at reduced levels On June 17, the US and Iran signed a memorandum requiring immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon Israel has occupied nearly a fifth of Lebanon Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem stated 'Israel must leave unconditionally' as a condition for peace US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have disagreed over the intensity of Israeli military operations in Lebanon Trump stated he called Netanyahu 'crazy' earlier this month but described him as a 'very good man' with an 'amazing partnership' Trump encouraged Netanyahu to adopt a 'softer touch' in approaching Lebanon Rubio stated the people of Lebanon have suffered due to outside interference and deserve better
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · Axios ↗
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon following four days of US-mediated talks in Washington, DC
- Rubio characterized the deal as a 'first step' with substantial work remaining, surrounded by representatives from both nations
- The agreement comes amid ongoing Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon and continued fighting, despite a ceasefire agreement reached last week
- Tension has emerged between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Trump over the intensity of Israeli operations in Lebanon
- The framework relates to a June memorandum between the US and Iran requiring termination of military operations across all fronts including Lebanon