US, Israel and Lebanon sign trilateral framework for staged border de-escalation

Israel, Lebanon and the U.S. have signed a trilateral framework agreement in Washington aimed at reducing tensions along the border. The deal outlines a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from parts of southern Lebanon, while allowing Israeli forces to remain in a designated security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal The post Lebanon, Israel and US sign trilateral framework pact appeared first on Vanguard News.

Washington: Washington on Friday released text of a trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon and the United States aimed at ending hostilities that have been a violent second front of the Middle East war.The following are highlights of the 14-point agreement signed in the US capital:'Lasting peace'Israel and Lebanon, with US support, "affirm their shared goal of achieving lasting peace and security," the agreement begins.The neighboring states "declare their intent to conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and to therewith formally conclude any state of war between them."'Verified disarmament'The framework determines to make "irreversible progress" towards resolving all issues between Israel and Lebanon, while doing so is to be achieved through "direct bilateral talks, with the mediation and support of the United States."Also read | US strikes Iran following attack on cargo ship in Strait of HormuzThe Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) "will restore effective sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure."This will enable the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to "progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory." The framework will set out the steps and verification mechanisms to advance this process.Pilot zonesThe LAF will "gradually assume full and effective security responsibility in pilot zones, which will serve as the mechanism for phased and verified redeployments of the IDF and the deployments of the LAF."Two initial zones have been agreed to by both sides, and future pilot zones will be agreed by mutual consent.Upon confirmation of the disarmament of non-state armed groups, notably the Iran-backed Hezbollah, the LAF will assume full security responsibility in these zones.Also read | US announces Israel-Lebanon framework agreement after Washington talks"Internationally supported reconstruction efforts will begin, and Lebanese civilians will be able to safely return to these areas under the exclusive control of Lebanese state authorities," the agreement states. "The United States intends to work closely with both countries to verify and support this process."Working groupsLebanon's government under the deal reaffirms its commitment to restoring full sovereignty over its territory. It will "rebuild the State's monopoly on the use of force, achieve the complete and verified disarmament of all non-state armed groups, and ensure that such groups will have no military or security role and no armed capabilities anywhere in Lebanon."Lebanon asks for the support of international and particularly Arab partners, under the leadership of the United States, to do this.Israel and Lebanon also are to establish "working groups to draft the full comprehensive peace and security agreement" between them, the framework says, and "immediately establish complementary tracks of ongoing direct engagement, facilitated by the United States."'No territorial ambitions'Israel for its part states that its military actions in Lebanon "are solely a consequence of the attacks, threat posed by, and hostile intent of non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah.""Termination of this threat," notably through disarmament of such non-state groups and "additional security arrangements to be agreed upon between the two countries," will eliminate any future necessity for IDF military action or presence in Lebanon, it said.It also stressed that "the Government of Israel declares that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon."

Washington on Friday released text of a trilateral framework between Israel, Lebanon and the United States aimed at ending hostilities that have been a violent second front of the Middle East war.The following are highlights of the 14-point agreement signed in the US capital:- 'Lasting peace' -Israel and Lebanon, with US support, "affirm their shared goal of achieving lasting peace and security," the agreement begins.

Officials say the agreement includes a pilot effort in which Lebanese soldiers will take control of two areas occupied by Israel.