Israel and Lebanon Sign US-Mediated Framework Peace Agreement

First Published 12 hours ago

3 Updates by 3 sources

Israel and Lebanon signed a framework peace agreement in Washington on Friday following several days of US-mediated talks aimed at ending fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

The trilateral document was signed at the US State Department by Lebanese Ambassador Nada Moawad and her Israeli counterpart, Yechiel Leiter. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the agreement “the first step in what will be a difficult journey, without a doubt, but an important and an essential and a necessary one.”

The conflict broke out on March 2 after Hezbollah fired at Israel. The ensuing Israeli air and ground attacks have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million. Israel’s reported death toll includes at least 32 soldiers and four civilians.

Officials did not provide details of the framework deal. Ambassador Moawad said the agreement is a “first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, securing a permanent and final cessation of hostilities.” Ambassador Leiter stated, “In this performance-based trilateral framework agreement, Iran is out, Hezbollah is out, and the road to peace between Israel and Lebanon is in.”

In a reaction to the agreement, Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem reportedly described the deal as a declaration of defeat for the United States and Israel.

Pakistan News will update this story as more confirmed details become available.

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