The Israel-Lebanon recipe for never-ending war

A recent framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, brokered by the US, aims to restore Lebanese sovereignty but implicitly acknowledges Hezbollah as a threat. The agreement, negotiated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, contradicts a separate understanding led by US Vice President JD Vance with Iran, which conditioned the end of Israel's war against Hezbollah on an unqualified withdrawal from Lebanon. This divergence highlights two contradictory US approaches to Lebanon's role in regional peace.

• The Rubio-brokered deal links Israel's withdrawal to the "verified disarmament" of Hezbollah, a condition deemed highly unlikely given Lebanon's political landscape and Iran's regional influence.
• Senator Roger Wicker, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated, "I believe it would be an error to force Israel to stand down against Hezbollah."
• Hezbollah's leader, Naim Qassem, has vowed to continue fighting, stating, "We did not leave the battlefield in the most difficult circumstances, and we will not leave it."
• The article suggests that by conditioning Israel's withdrawal on Hezbollah's disarmament without addressing Iran's support, the agreement sets the stage for a permanent stalemate or escalation, rather than a lasting peace.