WASHINGTON - Senior diplomats from the United States, Lebanon, and Israel gathered at the Harry S. Truman Building on Wednesday evening to deliver joint remarks following a critical round of trilateral talks that have culminated in a conditional ceasefire framework.
State Department Counselor Dan Holler, alongside Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, addressed reporters to outline the initial terms of the truce and the next steps towards a broader security treaty.
A Conditional Truce on the Horizon
The breakthrough follows two days of intense, Washington-mediated discussions. Addressing the press gallery, Mr Holler confirmed that both Middle Eastern nations have committed to a cessation of hostilities, though he stressed that the arrangement is strictly conditional.
For the truce to hold, Hizbollah must completely halt all firing and entirely evacuate its operatives from the South Litani Sector. Under the current roadmap, the United States will guide both parties in fast-tracking the creation of special "pilot zones." Within these areas, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are slated to assume exclusive operational authority, effectively sidelining all non-state factions.
"These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement," Holler stated, reinforcing that both Jerusalem and Beirut have formally declared they hold no hostile intentions toward one another.
Reclaiming Sovereign Control
A major theme of the briefing was the emphasis on state-to-state diplomacy. The three nations issued a unified rejection of external interference, declaring that the future of the region must be shaped exclusively by sovereign governments rather than outside states or proxy networks holding Lebanon’s future hostage.
The security discussions built upon baseline technical talks held at the Pentagon on May 29, focusing heavily on a sustainable framework to guarantee border integrity. This includes a mutual commitment to dismantling existing non-state armed groups and blocking their re-emergence. The delegations also used the platform to jointly condemn Iran's regional missile strikes and its ongoing financial and logistical backing of proxy forces across the Middle East.
Differing Priorities and Leadership Tributes
While the joint statement pointed to shared objectives, the individual remarks highlighted the specific national pressures driving the talks:
* The United States: Mr Holler reiterated Washington's firm stance that a durable peace can only be brokered via a direct channel between the two sovereign nations, dismissing any alternative diplomatic tracks. He reaffirmed American plans to bolster the LAF's field capacity and pointed to recent statements by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, framing Hizbollah as an destabilising adversary to Lebanon itself.
* Lebanon: Ambassador Moawad, speaking briefly before delivering remarks in Arabic, underscored Beirut's focus on absolute respect for internationally recognized borders, territorial integrity, and the immediate need to scale up the LAF's presence with American logistical support.
* Israel: Ambassador Leiter delivered a portion of his statement in Hebrew after offering explicit credit to top leadership. "This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership of President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and President Aoun, and we are thankful for their leadership," Leiter noted. He reminded the room that from Israel's perspective, true security remains entirely dependent on the total disarmament of Hizbollah and the complete dismantling of its infrastructure.
Timeline for Final Talks
The current round of face-to-face negotiations has concluded, but a clear timeline has been established to turn the ceasefire framework into a permanent accord.
The political and security teams from both nations are scheduled to officially reconvene during the week of June 22 to begin drafting a comprehensive final treaty. In the meantime, the State Department has agreed to maintain an active role, serving as the primary facilitator for all communications between Jerusalem and Beirut over the coming weeks.
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