Key facts
- A U.S.-brokered deal for Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon is conditional on Hezbollah's disarmament.
- The deal has intensified divisions within Lebanon, raising fears of civil war.
- Hezbollah has vehemently opposed the disarmament clause, calling the deal a 'humiliation'.
- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated he would not accept blackmail from Hezbollah.
- Plans for 'pilot zones' for troop handover have seen little movement on the ground.
- The deal is expected to be a key topic during Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's White House visit.
A U.S.-brokered deal intended to pave the way for peace between Lebanon and Israel is instead deepening existing divisions within Lebanon and sparking fears of political paralysis or even a return to civil war. The agreement, which envisions an Israeli troop withdrawal, is contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that has entered into conflict with Israel without government approval.
Lebanon's Western-backed government has hailed the deal as a step toward liberating occupied territories and allowing displaced populations to return home. However, Hezbollah and its supporters have vehemently opposed the disarmament clause, labeling the agreement a "humiliation" and accusing the government of agreeing to an open-ended Israeli occupation. Protests have erupted, with Hezbollah supporters blocking major roads and one legislator warning that the government would need to engage in civil war to enforce the U.S.-backed agreement.
The tensions have evoked memories of Lebanon's devastating 1975-1990 civil war and more recent clashes in 2008. The deal's prospects are further complicated by the broader U.S.-Iran conflict. While a recent truce has reduced fighting, Israeli troops remain in parts of southern Lebanon. The framework agreement, announced June 26, has no clear timeline for Israeli withdrawal, leaving the deal effectively frozen. Plans for "pilot zones" for troop handover have seen little progress, with Lebanese military officials reporting no concrete information on the withdrawal process.