Washington: Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries.
"We are happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and of course the government of Israel, with a mediation and support of the United States of America," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the signing ceremony.
The agreement "begins to put in place a framework for lasting peace and security," Rubio added. Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed on Friday France and Italy's efforts to set up a multinational coalition to succeed the UN peacekeeping force in his country, whose mandate expires at the end of the year.
The peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, UNIFIL, is made up of roughly 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries, and has been in place since 1978, although its presence has not prevented repeated outbreaks of conflict.
Last August, the UN Security Council, under US pressure, decided to end UNIFIL's mandate on December 31, 2026.
In a statement, Aoun called the initiative "a sincere expression of the international commitment to supporting Lebanon's sovereignty and stability".
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