An Israeli official said late on the 26th that US, Israeli and Lebanese
representatives signed a tripartite framework agreement in the United States.
Under the accord, Israel will continue to station forces in the southern Lebanon
area it has unilaterally designated as a "security zone" until HEZBOLLAH is
disarmed; the IDF will retain freedom of action across the zone and may act at
any time to remove security threats. Israel and Lebanon also agreed that in two
areas outside the "security zone" Israel will withdraw progressively and hand
control to the Lebanese army. Israeli and Lebanese authorities had no immediate
comment.
