Egypt urges gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon after framework deal

CAIRO – 27 June 2026: Egypt welcomed the US-brokered framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel, stressing the need for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from areas that remain under Israeli occupation.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, describing the deal as “an important beginning.”

He emphasized that Israel's gradual withdrawal from the remaining occupied areas would allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy and enable the Lebanese state to extend its authority across the country's entire territory.

The foreign minister stressed the importance of building on the agreement to achieve a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the full, non-selective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

He also reaffirmed Egypt's full support for the Lebanese government and its policies aimed at extending state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.

This includes the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout the country and ensuring that all weapons remain under state authority, in a way that strengthens Lebanon's security and stability, Abdelatty added.

US-Brokered Israel-Lebanon Framework

Israel and Lebanon signed a US-brokered framework agreement on Friday after days of negotiations in Washington, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough.

The framework deal is aimed at eventually ending the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon and restoring the state sovereignty over all Lebanese territory.

Under the framework, Israel and Lebanon affirm the right of each state to “exist in peace, and their mutual desire to live in security as neighboring sovereign states.”

Israel and Lebanon hereby declare their “intent to conclusively end the conflict, address its underlying causes, and to therewith formally conclude any state of war between them.”

The two sides also commit to “a reciprocal, sequenced process, with clear conditions, whereby the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) will restore effective sovereign authority over all Lebanese territory, pending the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure.”

This process should enable the Israeli army to “progressively redeploy out of the Lebanese territory.”

Lebanon was drawn into the latest Middle East escalation after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting Hezbollah to fire rockets into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Despite the recent ceasefire deal, Israel has conducted several attacks on the Arab country over claims of threats from Hezbollah.