US-mediated Israel-Lebanon peace framework agreement, Hezbollah disarmament

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announced on the 26th that Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a framework for achieving peace. It said it had established a "clear process" for restoring Lebanese sovereignty and disarming the Iranian-backed Shiite Islamic group Hezbollah.

The fighting in Lebanon has been a destabilizing factor in negotiations between the United States and Iran. Although this is a step forward toward easing tensions in the region, Hezbollah is resisting the move, and it is unclear whether it will lead to lasting peace.

Under the mediation of the United States, Israel and Lebanon have been holding talks in Washington since the 23rd. According to a statement from the US side, a ``military coordination group'' was created by the three countries to steadily implement the agreement. The United States announced its readiness to immediately provide $100 million (approximately 16.1 billion yen) in humanitarian aid and other assistance in cooperation with the United Nations, and to invest more than $30 million (approximately 4.8 billion yen) to strengthen the capabilities of the Lebanese military.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the deal in a video address, saying it would be a "big blow to Iran," and said it would create a "test zone" in which Israeli forces would withdraw from some occupied territory. However, he emphasized that if Hezbollah does not agree to disarm, it will continue to maintain its presence in the south.

Hezbollah's members of parliament have vowed to oppose any measures taken by the Lebanese government. Hezbollah is called Lebanon's "state within a state" and has a strong influence on politics and society. It has been said that its military power exceeds that of the regular army. It is unclear whether Lebanese authorities will be able to rein in Hezbollah, and implementation of the agreement may be difficult. [Cairo Yukina Furukawa]