Israel and Lebanon signed a framework peace agreement in Washington after several days of US-mediated talks. The document is intended as a first step toward ending hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The trilateral document was signed by Lebanon's ambassador to the US, Nada Moawad, Israel's ambassador, Yehiel Leiter, and representatives of the US State Department.
"Today we have taken the first step on a path that will undoubtedly be difficult, but important, necessary and responsible," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before the signing ceremony.
Details of the framework agreement have not yet been disclosed. It is also unknown how it differs from the ceasefire agreement reached on April 16, after which the parties continued talks with US mediation.
According to Moawad, the signed document should help restore Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, permanently end hostilities, and allow residents to return to their homes.
In turn, Leiter stated that the new agreement excludes Iranian and Hezbollah influence on the negotiation process and opens the way to peace between Israel and Lebanon.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on March 2, when the group struck Israeli territory a few days after US and Israeli attacks on Iran. In response, Israel launched an air and ground military operation in Lebanon. According to Reuters, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon as a result of the hostilities, and over one million have been forced to flee their homes.
Israel's losses during the conflict amount to at least 32 soldiers and four civilians. Hezbollah has not published official information on its losses. According to Reuters data from May 4, several thousand of the group's fighters were killed in the war.
During the talks in Washington, the sides also discussed the possibility of transferring part of the Israeli-occupied territory in southern Lebanon to the control of the Lebanese army. However, there is no official confirmation of any agreements reached on this issue.
Despite the ceasefire, clashes continue. On Friday, Israel said its military struck seven Hezbollah fighters who, according to the army, were operating near Israeli-controlled territory. Reuters noted it could not independently confirm this information.
In addition, Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri urging residents to leave the area. This is the first such incident since the latest ceasefire agreement came into effect.
According to an Israeli army spokesman, this is a "reminder" to the civilian population that the area is in a security zone where Israeli forces operate. Lebanese authorities, in turn, claim that Israeli forces open fire on anyone approaching the northern border of this zone, including civilians and Lebanese army soldiers.