The United States said on Friday that Israel and Lebanon signed a U.S.-brokered trilateral framework that, according to Washington, establishes a process to restore Lebanese sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and enable Israeli forces to withdraw to their border once what it described as the threat from the group is removed.
In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the agreement, signed by Lebanon, Israel and the United States, marked “another major milestone” in President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to the Middle East.
According to the State Department, the framework establishes “a clear and structured process” to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarm Hezbollah and dismantle the group’s infrastructure. The department said the agreement would enable Israel to return to its border once the threat posed by Hezbollah to Israeli citizens had been removed.
The State Department also said the agreement creates a U.S.-facilitated Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), which it said would allow Israel and Lebanon to implement the framework.
The United States said it would remain fully engaged in implementing the agreement and would immediately provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon in coordination with the United Nations.
The State Department also said Washington intends to improve the capability of the Lebanese Armed Forces and that the Department of War is prepared to reimburse the force with more than $30 million under existing authorities and appropriations to support the implementation of the framework.
In its statement, the State Department described Hezbollah as “Iran’s most dangerous proxy” and accused the group of undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty, launching attacks on Israel and threatening U.S. interests.