Israeli minister warns that occupation in Lebanon is "long term"

The leader of Lebanon's parliament has stated that the tripartite agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States will not be implemented. Nabih Berri, head of Lebanon’s parliamentary body, expressed his stance against the framework agreement signed in Washington on Friday. Berri, who is aligned with Hezbollah, argues that the deal does not guarantee Lebanon’s sovereignty and describes it as a “framework agreement” rather than a binding commitment. The agreement was intended to ensure peace in Lebanon by requiring Lebanese authorities to disarm Hezbollah, while in return, Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, Berri insists that this arrangement fails to protect Lebanon’s rights and interests.

Hezbollah, which has been opposing the agreement, announced late last night that it would continue its resistance efforts following Israeli military strikes in the south of the country. In a statement, the group accused Israel of committing “blatant violations” of their weapons and claimed that the attacks were an unprovoked aggression. This response highlights the deep divisions within Lebanon regarding the new agreement and raises concerns about the stability of the region.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear after meetings with U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper, the head of Lebanon’s armed forces, and Lebanese President Michel Aoun that Israel will not vacate southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed. According to Katz, this position has been accepted by the United States and is formalized in the security annex of the framework agreement. During his meeting with Cooper, both parties agreed that Israel’s military forces will remain in so-called “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, which Israel refers to as areas necessary for protecting its territory.

Regarding the potential disarmament of Shia militias, Katz expressed skepticism about the Lebanese army suddenly transforming into a force capable of confronting Hezbollah. He also noted that without U.S. pressure on Israel, Israeli forces might have already caused the collapse of the Lebanese group. Katz mentioned that a large-scale aerial campaign had been prepared, which could have dismantled Hezbollah, but he suggested that the group had been pleading with Iran to save them from such an offensive.

Katz referenced the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities initiated on February 28 by Israeli-American attacks on Iran, including Lebanon. The agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv stipulates that Lebanese armed forces will gradually take control of pilot zones in southern Lebanon as a preliminary step toward the eventual withdrawal of Israeli troops, who have expanded their military positions during the conflict.

The agreement also includes the formation of joint working groups to finalize negotiations on a permanent accord and commits Lebanon to exercising full sovereignty over its entire territory and disarming non-state armed groups, particularly Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah opposes direct talks and refuses to surrender its arms as long as the Israeli threat persists.

Lebanese military officials confirmed in a statement that their meeting with Cooper in southeast Beirut discussed recent developments in Lebanon and the region, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the success of the implementation mechanism of the security annex of the framework agreement and ways to strengthen future cooperation. They also thanked Cooper for American support in mediating the agreement, stressing the need for continued cooperation between the two armies to preserve Lebanon’s security and stability.

President Aoun personally thanked Cooper on social media for the attention shown by U.S. President Donald Trump to Lebanon in its pursuit of security and stability. He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to extending its authority through its armed forces up to the international borders with Israel.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command announced only the meetings held by Cooper in Lebanon and Israel, where he visited U.S. troops stationed there. It indicated that currently more than 50,000 U.S. soldiers are operating in the Middle East. The situation remains tense as all parties await further developments and the potential impact of the new agreement on regional dynamics.