Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that a new framework agreement confirms Iran and Hezbollah have no role in Lebanon [1].

The agreement follows five rounds of negotiations hosted by Washington [3]. It represents a strategic effort to stabilize Israel's northern border by neutralizing the influence of Iranian-backed forces in the region.

Netanyahu said the framework is a "strong blow to Iran" [4]. Under the terms, Israel will maintain its presence in the security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed [1, 2].

As part of the transition, the Lebanese army will be permitted to take control of two [5] pilot zones. This arrangement is intended to establish a security buffer, while ensuring that Hezbollah cannot re-establish operational control over the border area.

Netanyahu said the deal ensures that Israel remains in the security zone under the new framework [2]. This positioning is designed to secure the border and prevent further escalations while the disarmament process occurs.

Despite these framework terms, reports have indicated that the Israeli army expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon beyond the security zone, also known as the "yellow line" [3]. The framework agreement, however, focuses on the specific conditions for the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the empowerment of the Lebanese state military.

“The framework agreement represents a strong blow to Iran”

This agreement attempts to shift the security architecture of southern Lebanon from a Hezbollah-dominated militia zone to one managed by the Lebanese army. By tying the Israeli withdrawal to the total disarmament of Hezbollah, Netanyahu is establishing a conditional exit strategy that puts the burden of stability on the Lebanese state and the removal of Iranian influence.