Lebanese president urges US to stand by Beirut following Lebanon-Israel framework deal

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday urged the United States to stand by his nation after a recent Lebanon-Israel framework deal.

The Washington-backed agreement aims to permanently end regional hostilities after the recent devastating war between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants.

What are the main terms of the Lebanon-Israel framework deal?

The trilateral agreement mandates the complete disarmament of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. Furthermore, the pact outlines the immediate deployment of the Lebanese army into southern border regions, beginning with two designated pilot areas.

Hezbollah leadership completely rejected the diplomatic pact because the final text fails to establish a binding timetable for an Israeli military withdrawal. President Aoun conveyed his appeal to Washington within a congratulatory message sent to U.S. President Donald Trump, marking America's 250th independence anniversary. The Lebanese head of state urged Washington to continue standing beside the nation's just causes, domestic institutions, national army, and citizens.

Aoun expressed strong optimism that his country can successfully turn the page on devastating wars and enter a new era of stability. The United States Embassy in Lebanon released a supportive statement on social media confirming its pride in standing alongside the local population.

American diplomats stated that Washington intends to help the nation forge a brighter future defined by long-overdue economic prosperity and lasting regional peace.

Hezbollah originally drew the country into the wider Middle East war on March 2 by launching rocket volleys into northern Israel. The militant faction initiated the border strikes to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader during previous targeted US-Israeli air assaults. Israel responded to the initial aggression with heavy airstrikes and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon to secure its frontier.

How has the ceasefire impacted displaced residents in southern Lebanon?

A comprehensive ceasefire agreement signed between Washington and Tehran took official effect across the regional border zones on June 21.

The United Nations International Organization for Migration reported this week that more than 640,000 displaced citizens have already returned to their homes. Local authorities estimate that the brief conflict killed approximately 4,300 people and forced more than one million citizens to flee their villages.

However, thousands of residents remain completely unable to return to vulnerable towns situated directly along the southern international border lines.

Israeli troops still occupy significant swathes of frontier territory, while many residential communities have suffered massive infrastructure destruction from heavy bombardment. Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed conducted an official site visit to the heavily damaged southern city of Nabatieh on Saturday afternoon.

Sayed confirmed that administrative authorities are actively constructing a comprehensive emergency plan to facilitate the safe return of displaced families.

The proposed government relief program will distribute prefabricated temporary houses and provide direct rent assistance payments to affected low-income households. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has maintained intermittent cross-border strikes against southern targets despite the implementation of the official international ceasefire.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli drone strike on the village of Mansouri wounded one civilian on Saturday. The state media outlet also documented active Israeli artillery shelling targeting several other rural agricultural locations across the southern border sector. These continuing border skirmishes underscore the extreme fragility of the current peace framework as the state attempts to rebuild its territory.