Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump's senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, said on Tuesday, 21 July that the US-backed framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel had entered its implementation phase — marking what he called the first formal accord between the two countries since the 1949 Armistice Agreement. Boulos made the remarks in Washington after Trump held a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

What Was Said After the White House Meeting

Boulos told reporters that the two presidents had developed 'very good chemistry' during discussions that covered security arrangements, economic cooperation, and support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). He described the talks as 'very productive', noting that both leaders addressed 'some very important points' including LAF backing and bilateral economic ties.

'This is indeed a historic agreement,' Boulos said. 'This is the first time actually the two countries have actually signed an agreement since 1949.'

Implementation Will Be Gradual, Not Immediate

Boulos was emphatic that progress would unfold in stages rather than on a fixed timetable. 'It's all about implementation,' he said. 'It's going to take time. This is not easy. Nobody believes for a second that this is going to be an easy task in any way. It will take time, but we're determined. President Trump is absolutely determined to see this through.'

He pointed to a verification mechanism built into the agreement, designed to confirm that each phase is completed before the next begins. The use of 'pilot zones' in southern Lebanon — which Boulos called 'a brilliant concept' — allows both sides to advance implementation incrementally.

Israeli Redeployment and Hezbollah Disarmament

On the question of Israeli forces redeploying from southern Lebanon, Boulos said the process was proceeding through coordinated steps between CENTCOM, the LAF, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) rather than against a set deadline. He linked Israeli withdrawal directly to the dismantling of Hezbollah's military infrastructure, describing the two tracks as inseparable.

'There are two aspects. There's the disarmament, and then there's the withdrawal, and they go hand in hand, step by step, in sequence,' he said.

Asked about US leverage over Hezbollah, Boulos declined to detail specific options but noted that the administration had 'always tools that the president has at his disposal' if required.

US Recognition of Lebanon's Elected Leadership

Boulos underscored that Washington recognised only Lebanon's constitutionally elected government as the country's legitimate representative. He cited President Aoun's own assertion that he and his government are 'the legitimate representative of Lebanon and the Lebanese', adding: 'We respect the sovereignty of Lebanon.'

Boulos also rejected suggestions that domestic political calendars in any of the three countries could slow the process, saying it would be driven by on-the-ground conditions rather than dates. The broader framework, he noted, goes beyond military arrangements because 'the two countries have recognised each other and committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their respective parties.'

What the Framework Agreement Aims to Achieve

The White House has positioned the framework as a central pillar of its Lebanon policy. Its stated objectives include expanding the authority of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon, reducing Hezbollah's military presence, and facilitating a phased Israeli redeployment under US supervision. If fully implemented, it would represent the most significant security realignment on Lebanon's southern border in decades. The coming weeks of coordinated ground-level action will be the first real test of whether the framework can translate diplomatic momentum into durable change.