Israel-Lebanon Deal Ties Ceasefire to Hezbollah Disarmament

Israel and Lebanon have signed a US-brokered framework agreement that links a ceasefire to the disarmament of Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese militant group. The deal calls for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon only after Hezbollah gives up its weapons, and it establishes a trilateral mechanism involving the US, Israel, and Lebanon to oversee the process.

Hezbollah's leader, Qassem, has rejected the agreement as "null" and a "surrender," warning it could lead to civil war. In contrast, Lebanon's foreign minister praised the deal as a "victory for diplomacy." Egypt has urged a gradual Israeli withdrawal, while Hezbollah's opposition raises questions about whether the disarmament plan can actually be implemented.