US State Department to MTV: No Role for Hezbollah, Ongoing Support for Lebanese Army
6/27/2026 9:10:22 AM
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that Hezbollah will have no role in implementing the agreement between Lebanon and Israel, stressing that U.S. support for the Lebanese Army will continue.
Speaking to MTV, Pigott said: "As Secretary Rubio said, this is the beginning of the beginning. We all know there is a great deal of work ahead and a difficult road to travel. But what is happening today is historic. These are the first talks at this level between the governments of Israel and Lebanon in decades. What we are witnessing today is the establishment of a framework and the principles agreed upon under this framework agreement. The real work now begins to achieve lasting peace and prosperity."
He added: "Secretary Rubio has been clear that Hezbollah has repeatedly dragged the Lebanese people into endless conflicts, bringing them nothing but death and destruction. Part of this framework agreement is about restoring the sovereignty of the Lebanese government, the legitimate representative of the Lebanese people. It also outlines a path that will allow Israel to return to its border once the threat against its people has been eliminated. The agreement further provides a roadmap for dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure. As part of this effort, the United States remains committed to strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Army so they can exercise legitimate sovereign authority in these areas as the rightful representatives of the Lebanese people."
Pigott continued: "The United States is committed to enhancing the Lebanese government's capabilities. This includes tens of millions of dollars in support for the Lebanese Army, as well as a commitment to provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance. The framework agreement also calls for the establishment of a trilateral coordination group to develop a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground. We are now seeing the creation of these pilot zones, efforts to strengthen the Lebanese government's capabilities, and the implementation of a genuine process under an agreed framework aimed at achieving lasting peace and prosperity."
He went on: "The role of the United States has been to provide the space needed for these talks to take place in good faith. They are the first negotiations at this level in decades. I want to commend the courage of the two sovereign governments—the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel—for reaching this framework agreement and for demonstrating the political will to engage in these talks and sign the agreement. Time and again, Hezbollah has dragged the Lebanese people into endless conflict. This agreement provides a framework to bring that ongoing conflict to an end."
Pigott concluded: "As I said, there is still difficult work ahead. But what we are seeing today is the first pathway in decades toward ending this prolonged conflict, dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure, ensuring Israel's security, and establishing a sovereign Lebanese government. That is the objective we are working toward, and we remain committed to working with our partners to achieve it. The framework agreement sets out key steps, including the establishment of pilot zones, the creation of the coordination group, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and continued support to strengthen the Lebanese government's capabilities. Today marks the signing of this framework, but the hard work begins now. Once again, I commend the courage of the two sovereign governments in signing this framework agreement."
Speaking to MTV, Pigott said: "As Secretary Rubio said, this is the beginning of the beginning. We all know there is a great deal of work ahead and a difficult road to travel. But what is happening today is historic. These are the first talks at this level between the governments of Israel and Lebanon in decades. What we are witnessing today is the establishment of a framework and the principles agreed upon under this framework agreement. The real work now begins to achieve lasting peace and prosperity."
He added: "Secretary Rubio has been clear that Hezbollah has repeatedly dragged the Lebanese people into endless conflicts, bringing them nothing but death and destruction. Part of this framework agreement is about restoring the sovereignty of the Lebanese government, the legitimate representative of the Lebanese people. It also outlines a path that will allow Israel to return to its border once the threat against its people has been eliminated. The agreement further provides a roadmap for dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure. As part of this effort, the United States remains committed to strengthening the capabilities of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Army so they can exercise legitimate sovereign authority in these areas as the rightful representatives of the Lebanese people."
Pigott continued: "The United States is committed to enhancing the Lebanese government's capabilities. This includes tens of millions of dollars in support for the Lebanese Army, as well as a commitment to provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance. The framework agreement also calls for the establishment of a trilateral coordination group to develop a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground. We are now seeing the creation of these pilot zones, efforts to strengthen the Lebanese government's capabilities, and the implementation of a genuine process under an agreed framework aimed at achieving lasting peace and prosperity."
He went on: "The role of the United States has been to provide the space needed for these talks to take place in good faith. They are the first negotiations at this level in decades. I want to commend the courage of the two sovereign governments—the Government of Lebanon and the Government of Israel—for reaching this framework agreement and for demonstrating the political will to engage in these talks and sign the agreement. Time and again, Hezbollah has dragged the Lebanese people into endless conflict. This agreement provides a framework to bring that ongoing conflict to an end."
Pigott concluded: "As I said, there is still difficult work ahead. But what we are seeing today is the first pathway in decades toward ending this prolonged conflict, dismantling Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure, ensuring Israel's security, and establishing a sovereign Lebanese government. That is the objective we are working toward, and we remain committed to working with our partners to achieve it. The framework agreement sets out key steps, including the establishment of pilot zones, the creation of the coordination group, the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and continued support to strengthen the Lebanese government's capabilities. Today marks the signing of this framework, but the hard work begins now. Once again, I commend the courage of the two sovereign governments in signing this framework agreement."