Israel, Lebanon reach framework deal aimed at ending conflict

Galit Altstein, Bloomberg News on Jun 26, 2026

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Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. reached an initial trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for ending the conflict between the two countries and ultimately reaching a peace settlement, a senior Israeli official said Friday.

Israel will maintain a “security zone” along the boundaries of the yellow line, which marks a seized territory that stretches some 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) into Lebanon from the Israeli border. The latest conflict erupted after Iran-backed Hezbollah joined Tehran in retaliating against Israel following its joint attack with the U.S. on the Islamic Republic in late February.

The deal — which was struck Friday during three-way talks in Washington — follows a separate ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. But it faces significant hurdles, most significantly because Hezbollah has rejected the negotiations.

The U.S. has mediated and declared multiple ceasefires in Lebanon but most have quickly collapsed. Israel has repeatedly cited Hezbollah’s violations of past ceasefires to justify its continued attacks on the group.

President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop attacking targets in Lebanon as the U.S. leader tries to preserve a fragile ceasefire with Iran. Iran has conditioned its ongoing peace talks with the U.S. on an imminent ceasefire in Lebanon.

Under the deal negotiated in Washington, Israel will keep its troops in south Lebanon until Hezbollah and all militant groups in Lebanon have been disarmed and no longer pose a threat to Israel, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel, however, has agreed to withdraw from two areas that will be taken over by the Lebanese army as pilot zones where it will aim to implement plans to disarm Hezbollah.

One area is outside the so-called Yellow Zone that was also seized by Israel, and the second is within that area.

Israel has said it need to maintain control over the buffer zone — and prevent displaced Lebanese from returning there — as long as Iran-backed Hezbollah, which is deemed a terrorist group by the U.S., continues to pose a threat.

The Israel Defense Forces will retain full operational freedom throughout the security zone to eliminate threats of any kind, the Israeli official added.