File Photo: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun speaks to journalists at the presidential palace in Baabda. AFP
The Washington-brokered framework mandates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of Hezbollah and a localized Lebanese army deployment starting in two pilot zones.
Hezbollah has rejected the deal, calling it a "humiliating surrender" that fails to set a definitive timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas in south Lebanon, and has vowed to continue fighting Israeli occupation forces.
In a congratulatory message to President Donald Trump marking the United States' 250th anniversary of independence, Aoun urged Washington to "keep always standing beside Lebanon's right and just causes, its institutions, army and people".
Aoun expressed hope that Lebanon could "turn the page on wars... and open a new page of hope, peace and stability".
In a message also marking the independence anniversary, the US embassy in Lebanon said on X that "it is with great pride that we stand with the people of Lebanon as they forge a brighter future -- one of peace, prosperity, and promise long overdue".
Israel escalated its attacks in Lebanon on 2 March and has since occupied more parts of southern Lebanon, despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was meant to end its war on Lebanon.
Even before the escalation, Israel had repeatedly violated the truce under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701, carrying out 669 airstrikes between the November 2024 ceasefire and 2 March -- an average of roughly two attacks per day.
Since 2 March, Israeli strikes have killed at least 4,303 people, injured more than 12,202, and displaced nearly 1.4 million, according to Lebanon's health ministry.
An agreement signed by Tehran and Washington last month to end the US-Israeli war against Iran also established a ceasefire in Lebanon, which took effect on 21 June.
The Iran-US memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on 17 June, calls for an immediate and permanent end to hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon. Tehran maintains that any lasting settlement requires a complete Israeli withdrawal, the safe return of displaced civilians, and the full restoration of Lebanon's territorial integrity.
Days later, Lebanon and Israel agreed to a separate US-backed framework aimed at paving the way for a permanent end to hostilities and restoring state authority.
The parallel diplomatic initiatives have left Lebanon caught between two competing approaches to ending the conflict.
The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said this week that more than 640,000 displaced people have returned home since June 22.
But many residents are unable to return to towns and villages near the southern border where Israeli occupation troops remain, and many of which have been completely leveled by Israel in systematic demolitions.
On a visit to the south on Saturday including the heavily damaged city of Nabatieh, Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed said authorities were working on a plan including for "prefabricated houses and rent assistance payments" to help people return home, or to areas nearby.
Despite agreeing to the ceasefire, Israel has continued launching intermittent strikes across southern Lebanon, in direct violation of the framework agreement brokered by the United States.
Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) said an Israeli helicopter carried out "a broad sweep operation on the outskirts" of Majdal Zoun and launched five missiles towards the village, without specifying a target or immediately reporting casualties.
The NNA also reported on Saturday that an Israeli strike on the village of Mansouri wounded one person, and reported Israeli artillery shelling elsewhere.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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