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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the US-brokered framework agreement between Jerusalem and Lebanon on Friday as a solid first step towards peace and rejecting Iran’s interference in the region.
This success could lead to a normalization of relations between the two countries, Lebanon and Israel, which are in a formal state of war. The framework agreement could destabilize the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hezbollah, which has gained control of parts of Lebanon, according to experts.
Hezbollah and Israel have fought two wars since the terrorist organization joined Hamas in attacking Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and following the US-Israeli attack on Iran in February.
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Hezbollah launched long-range missiles from Lebanon into northern Israel within 48 hours of attacking Iran, fueling the conflict amid Operation Epic Fury. (Hadi Mizban/AP)
Rubio said, “Today is a good day because we are happy to announce a framework agreement between the independent government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America, which begins to lay the framework for lasting peace and security.”
He added, “That is what these two nations deserve.”
According to the Press Service of Israel (TPS-IL), Netanyahu called the deal “a heavy blow to Iran.” He added that the Islamic Republic wants to force Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, and “in fact Israel, Lebanon and the United States are telling them: This is none of your business. You have no role in southern Lebanon – neither you, nor Hezbollah or any other terrorist organization.”
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, wrote on X: “I was there all week but I had to fly back to Israel on Thursday night. A historic opportunity but the key is disarming Hezbollah, the evil terrorists who killed the American people. Israel, Lebanon signed a framework peace agreement following talks supported by the US.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter applaud after signing a framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon with State Department Counselor Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, June 26, 2026. (Ken Cedeno/Reuters)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, on the Arabic site X Post, thanked the American administration, led by President Donald Trump, “for their efforts to host and facilitate negotiations and support Lebanon’s position.”
Rubio’s announcement of hope encouraged some Lebanon experts about the historic opportunity for peace, while others warned of the need to proceed with caution.
Guila Fakhoury, whose father, Amer, was kidnapped by Hezbollah in 2019, told Fox News Digital that “Today marks a historic achievement. For the first time since 1983, Lebanon and Israel reached an agreement through direct negotiations. The influence of a representative was negotiated. In that way, this agreement replaces previous efforts to combine the stability and sovereignty of Lebanon with foreign programs.”
Fakhoury, added, “If these commitments are fulfilled, this agreement can be the basis of long-term cooperation, security, economic opportunity and shared stability that benefits both the people of Lebanon and Israel.”
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Hezbollah al-Mahdi parades large portraits of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Khomeini and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the Jerusalem Day event in Nabatiyeh, Lebanon, on August 1, 2013. (Hussein Malla/AP Photo)
He continued, “However, whether this agreement will bring lasting peace and stability will depend entirely on its implementation. The Lebanese government and its legal institutions must be the ones to create stability, not foreign actors or armed groups operating outside the government’s authority.”
Walid Phares, a leading US expert on Lebanon and the Mideast, told Fox News Digital, “This agreement is simply an end to the war and not a path to a major peace agreement. Hezbollah takes orders from Iran. It is clear that Tehran will complain about such an agreement and press the negotiators to get a statement from Washington asserting that the Islamic Republic’s means that the Islamic Republic will attack Israel. between the Rubio-sponsored deal in Lebanon and the fragility of the situation in the Gulf.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. (Avi Ohayon / GPO)
He added, “The regime is telling Hezbollah to ‘keep it accountable and strong but let’s get the money first.’ Israel offers its community something and remembers Trump’s concerns about the deal with Iran. The government of Lebanon hopes that its soldiers do not have to participate. The only unknown is the ability of the Lebanese opposition to rise up against Hezbollah. We are still within the status quo of Lebanon.”
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Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, wrote in X: “An absolute success,” This is the first agreement between Israel and Lebanon since 1983. A clear and resounding ‘NO’ to Iran as it challenges its efforts to control the Lebanon file.
He added, “But since the 1983 agreement was overthrown by the bad guys at the time (the Assad regime), Iran will try everything to ensure that this one also fails. Lebanon and Israel have the responsibility to ensure that this agreement is protected, and its implementation is successful. We will probably not have another chance.”
