Israel and Lebanon reach ceasefire agreement.

Israel and Lebanon agreed to implement a ceasefire following meetings at the US State Department in Washington, D.C., on June 2 and 3, 2026. Photo: AFP.

The joint statement, released on June 3rd following the trilateral summit, said that the implementation of the agreement depended on Hezbollah completely ceasing its attacks and withdrawing all its forces from the area south of the Litani River. Both sides also agreed to quickly establish pilot zones where the Lebanese army would assume full responsibility for security control, preventing the presence of non-state armed forces.

According to the participating parties, these measures are aimed at laying the groundwork for a process toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement in the future. The United States, Israel, and Lebanon simultaneously affirmed that Lebanon's future must be decided by the two governments , rejecting any attempts at interference from outside nations or forces.

Following defense consultations at the Pentagon on May 29, delegations developed a strategic security framework aimed at ensuring the sovereignty , security, and territorial integrity of both Lebanon and Israel. This framework includes the disarmament of non-state armed groups and preventing the reactivation of these forces.

Washington reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the enhancement of the Lebanese military's capabilities to help it effectively exercise sovereignty over its entire territory. Meanwhile, Israel argued that long-term security can only be achieved through the disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantling of its entire infrastructure in Lebanon.

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On the Lebanese side, the country's leaders emphasized the need to respect internationally recognized borders and called for the swift and full implementation of the agreement to end hostilities.

Israel and Lebanon reach ceasefire agreement.

Smoke rises over Lebanon after an Israeli airstrike, June 1, 2026. Photo: Reuters.

The two sides are expected to resume political and security talks from June 22, mediated by the United States, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement.

This is the fourth round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel under the auspices of the United States. Following the first meeting in April, US President Donald Trump expressed hope that the two countries could achieve peace this year. He also hoped to hold a meeting in Washington between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the near future.

However, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated that now is not the right time to hold a high-level summit. According to him, the immediate priority is ensuring the ceasefire is fully implemented. The Lebanese leader also emphasized that the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from southern Lebanon is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any long-term agreement.