Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urges US support after US‑mediated Israel‑Lebanon peace framework

Lebanon and Israel signed a U.S.-mediated framework agreement that calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah, a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the deployment of the Lebanese army in two pilot zones. President Joseph Aoun hailed the deal as a first step toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty, stressing that it does not legitimize the Israeli occupation but empowers the army to extend control over the entire territory. He thanked the United States and asked Washington to “always stand beside Lebanon’s right and just causes, its institutions, army and people.”

Aoun also said the agreement reflects a sovereign Lebanese decision separate from Iran‑U.S. dynamics. The U.S. embassy echoed the sentiment, pledging pride in standing with the Lebanese people. Hezbollah has rejected the framework, calling it null and void. Since the March 2 flare‑up, Lebanese health authorities report more than 4,300 deaths and over 12,200 injuries from Israeli attacks.

The deal has sparked renewed anti‑Hezbollah sentiment among Lebanese politicians and activists, who view the agreement as an opportunity to press for the militia’s disarmament and an end to the country’s recurrent wars.