Israel has agreed to withdraw its forces from two areas in southern Lebanon under a newly signed framework agreement reached after four days of negotiations in Washington involving Israel, Lebanon and the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said one of the locations is north of the Litani River, while the other is south of it. He described the move as a withdrawal from positions the Israeli military “does not need,” while stressing that Israeli forces would remain in other occupied areas until Hezbollah is disarmed.

The agreement, signed at the U.S. State Department, is intended to pave the way for a broader peace deal between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad called it “the first step on the road to restoring Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the accord as “the beginning of the beginning,” acknowledging that significant challenges remain but expressing optimism that it could help advance lasting peace between the two countries.

Under the agreement, the Lebanese Armed Forces will deploy to the areas vacated by Israeli troops as part of a pilot program tied to the latest ceasefire framework. The move follows weeks of negotiations aimed at easing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.

Netanyahu hailed the deal as a strategic victory for Israel, saying it allows the country to maintain a military presence in key areas of southern Lebanon while also dealing a blow to Iran's regional influence. He argued that Israel, Lebanon and the United States were united in rejecting outside interference in the negotiations.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the agreement and thanked the Trump administration for facilitating the talks. He said the deal would help restore Lebanese sovereignty and enable displaced residents to return to their communities under the authority of the Lebanese state.

However, the agreement has been strongly criticized by Hezbollah. Senior Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadallah rejected direct negotiations with Israel and urged the Lebanese government to reverse its decision to participate. Speaking to the pro-Hezbollah Al-Mayadeen television network, he condemned any engagement with Israel, calling those who cooperate with the country “criminals.”