Lebanon is named in the US-Iran framework, but withdrawal and civilian return remain uncertain

The Guardian reported that the US-Iran framework agreement includes a ceasefire in Lebanon but does not provide for a withdrawal of Israeli troops from areas they occupy.

The deal’s text has not been publicly released in the supplied reporting. The Guardian said a signing ceremony was scheduled for Friday in Geneva, with U.S. vice-president JD Vance and Iranian negotiator Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf expected to attend. Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” by Friday under the broader agreement.

Lebanon’s place in the agreement is contested from the start. Middle East Eye reported that Iran’s Mehr news agency republished what it said was the framework, including a “permanent and immediate cessation of war on all fronts, including Lebanon.” That reported language was not presented in the packet as an official published text accepted by all parties.

Israeli officials immediately pushed back. Middle East Eye reported that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Trump’s agreement did not bind Israel because Israel was not a party to it. Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces would not withdraw from “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria “for as long as necessary,” according to the Guardian. Lebanese prime minister Nawaf Salam said diplomatic efforts with the United States were continuing to achieve the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon.

The claimed cooling of the Lebanon front is therefore incomplete. The Guardian reported that Hezbollah said it used rockets and drones to attack an Israeli force trying to advance in southern Lebanon on Monday. Earlier that day, Lebanon’s official National News Agency said an Israeli drone targeted a car, killing its driver, marking the first deadly strike since the peace agreement was announced.

Middle East Eye said Lebanon’s Ministry of Health reported at least 3,696 people killed and 11,413 injured in Israeli attacks across the country since March 2. Those figures show the scale of human exposure behind the diplomatic language, though the packet does not provide displacement totals or verified numbers of civilians returning home.

The supplied CBC excerpt says Lebanon fighting eased after the US-Iran deal but warned displaced people not to rush home. It also says Hezbollah welcomed the deal as producing a comprehensive ceasefire, including in Lebanon, while noting that Israel is not a party to the US-Iran agreement. Because the CBC source was not fetched, those details should be treated cautiously.

The practical question for civilians is not only whether a deal names Lebanon, but whether roads, border areas, homes and local services are safe enough for return. If Israeli forces remain in occupied areas and attacks continue, a formal ceasefire claim may not translate into reliable access for displaced families.

The evidence supports a careful conclusion: Lebanon is included in reported deal language, and fighting may be easing in some accounts, but the sources do not verify a settled end to military operations or a safe civilian return. The gap between diplomatic progress and enforcement risk remains the core fact.