WASHINGTON, June 27 (ANI) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (local time) announced a U.S.-mediated framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at achieving “lasting peace and security.”
The agreement calls for a ceasefire, contingent on Hezbollah ending all attacks and withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
In a post on X, the U.S. Department of State quoted Rubio as saying, “We’re happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America.”
According to Fox News, Rubio said the agreement marks the beginning of a long process toward peace.
“It will take a lot of work and some time to get back to that point, but we believe today is the first step in that journey. The first step is sometimes the hardest step, but it’s the one we’re taking together today,” Rubio said.
He added that the people of Israel deserve to live in peace and security, particularly residents of northern Israel, who have repeatedly come under attack from Hezbollah operating from Lebanese territory.
“The Lebanese people and the Lebanese government are not responsible for these attacks. They have been carried out by an outside actor seeking to use that territory to target innocent civilians who have been unable to live safely in these communities for a long time,” Rubio said.
Rubio acknowledged that the path ahead would be challenging but emphasized the importance of the agreement.
“Every time a siren goes off, you have to stop your schoolwork, stop going to work, and run into a bunker or basement to protect yourself. Today is the beginning of the beginning. There is a great deal of work ahead, and we do not underestimate the difficulty of the task. But we understand how vital it is, and we are honored to have played a part in bringing this together,” he said.
Lebanon’s Ambassador to the United States, Nada Hamadeh, thanked the leaders and delegations involved in the negotiations.
“This was a long and difficult meeting. We are grateful to the host and to both delegations for their cooperation throughout these talks. This milestone was made possible through the leadership of President Aoun, the determination of Prime Minister Salam, the resilience of Ambassador Karam, and the patriotism of the Lebanese Armed Forces,” Hamadeh said.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, described the agreement as a significant step forward in advancing regional peace.
“I want to express my appreciation to Secretary Rubio and his team. Under his leadership, we have advanced President Trump’s vision of peace through strength and moved an important historical process forward,” Leiter said.
He noted that only days earlier he had expressed concern that Iran and its proxies were attempting to derail the negotiations.
“With a great deal of hard work under your leadership, together with Secretary Rubio and his staff, we’ve put the train back on the tracks and it is moving in the right direction,” he said.
Leiter also praised the resilience of Israel’s northern communities and paid tribute to members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“This would not have been possible without the determination of the people of Israel, especially the residents of the Galilee, who have remained steadfast in the face of Hezbollah terrorism. I also want to thank the men and women of the IDF who have selflessly defended Israel, many of whom have given their lives in the battle against Iran and its proxies,” he said.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State said Israel and Lebanon are heirs to ancient civilizations and have long shared economic potential and geographic advantages. It added that, for decades, both nations have been drawn into conflict by terrorist militias and proxy groups that have undermined Lebanon’s sovereignty, launched attacks against Israel, and fueled instability across the Middle East. (ANI)
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