The United States, Israel and Lebanon Sign the Trilateral Framework

Today’s signing of the Trilateral Framework between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States marks another major milestone in President Trump’s effort to bring lasting peace and stability to the region.

Israel and Lebanon are the inheritors of ancient civilizations that date back to the time of the Bible. These two countries produce some of the world’s most entrepreneurial people and share some of the most beautiful coastlines on Earth. But for decades, these countries have been dragged into war by terrorist militias and proxies that have undermined Lebanon’s sovereignty, launched senseless attacks on Israel, and exported chaos across the entire Middle East.

Hizballah, Iran’s most dangerous proxy, has repeatedly dragged Lebanon into devastating wars against the will of its government and people, most recently this March. It has built a vast military infrastructure inside Lebanon, fired tens of thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli cities, and played a key role in the devastation of Syria. Hizballah also plots attacks against Americans, supports drug trafficking networks that fuel violence in our hemisphere and inside the United States, and directly threatens American citizens and interests around the world.

Today, the Governments of Israel and Lebanon made a bold decision to agree to a framework that builds a realistic path out of endless conflict. This agreement establishes a clear and structured process to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty, disarm Hizballah and dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and enable Israel to return to its borders once that threat to its citizens is removed. It also creates a trilateral Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L), facilitated by the United States, allowing the two sides to implement this Framework. For Lebanon, this Framework provides a genuine pathway out of a long crisis. For Israel, it creates a verifiable path to removing the persistent threat on its northern border.

The United States commends the courage of the two sovereign governments for taking this step to break the cycle of violence once and for all. The United States will remain fully engaged and commit significant resources, including an immediate $100 million in humanitarian assistance in coordination with the U.N.

The United States also reaffirms its intent to improve the capability and capacity of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to more effectively establish sovereignty throughout Lebanese territory. To that end, the Department of War is prepared to reimburse the LAF with more than $30 million under existing authorities and appropriations to support the President’s vision for an enduring peace in Lebanon.

We intend to work closely with our regional partners to implement this Framework and deliver a brighter, more secure future for Israel, Lebanon, and the whole Middle East.