Lebanon's leadership has decided to press ahead with the U.S.-brokered framework agreement signed with Israel, describing it as the country's last opportunity to halt the war despite acknowledging that it falls short of an ideal settlement, according to sources at the presidential palace.

"The framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel signed in Washington is 'complete,' and the official Lebanese position is 'moving forward with it,' with no alternative option," sources at the Baabda presidential palace told Nidaa Al Watan.

"We have no more time. This is our last chance, and it must be implemented," the sources said.

According to the sources, President Joseph Aoun recognizes that the agreement is "not the best ever achieved," but considers it the best available option to stop what they described as the devastating war in Lebanon. They said Aoun has conveyed this message to visitors to the presidential palace in recent hours.

The sources stressed that the agreement's success now depends entirely on implementation by both Israel and Lebanon.

They said that if Israel honors its commitments, Lebanon would secure a series of Israeli withdrawals from its territory. However, if Israel fails to implement the agreement, Lebanon would no longer consider itself bound by it, according to people familiar with the behind-the-scenes contacts.

On the Lebanese side, implementation rests with the Lebanese Army, which is expected to carry out the political decisions adopted by the country's leadership.

Officials familiar with the discussions said implementation of the framework agreement and its accompanying security annex is expected to begin soon.

They described President Aoun's meeting with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper as "excellent," saying Cooper will coordinate with Israeli officials to finalize the implementation plan and launch it within days.

"We can no longer afford to delay," sources familiar with the talks told the newspaper.

The same sources said the Lebanese Army is fully prepared to carry out its assigned tasks and that the United States is "fully committed and will not abandon Lebanon" in supporting efforts to extend state authority across the country, disarm Hezbollah, and assist the army in carrying out that mission.

The report also highlighted what it described as strong U.S. backing for Lebanon following a 17-minute telephone conversation between Aoun and U.S. President Donald Trump, which it characterized as highly positive.

According to the newspaper, Aoun later remarked to one of his visitors: "You'd think he was Lebanese," referring to what he viewed as Trump's deep interest in Lebanon, its people and its future, as well as his efforts to pressure Israel to curb its military operations in the country.

The report said Aoun has already begun preparations for a visit to Washington and a meeting with Trump. Although no official date has been announced, the visit is expected to take place, and preparations have already begun at the presidential palace.

The newspaper also addressed recent accusations by Hezbollah officials, who claimed Aoun had asked Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal to resign and accused the president of seeking to ignite a civil war.

According to the report, Aoun responded both symbolically and substantively.

On Tuesday morning, he received Haykal at the presidential palace. During the meeting, the two discussed the army's upcoming responsibilities in light of the Washington agreement, in what the newspaper described as confirmation that both the agreement and the military's role in implementing it remain on track.

In an apparent response to Hezbollah's criticism, Aoun praised the Lebanese Army's performance, saying repeated campaigns of doubt and defamation targeting the military institution and its leadership would not affect its national role or its commitment to implementing the decisions of the country's political authorities, nor would they undermine the confidence placed in it by Lebanon's leaders and citizens.

The report also examined the recent criticism of the Washington agreement by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who was quoted on Tuesday as describing it as "as if nothing had happened."

Sources familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Berri's tougher rhetoric came after a phone conversation with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

According to the sources, Berri's initial reaction to the agreement had been limited to warning against domestic strife. They said his position hardened significantly after the call with Ghalibaf, suggesting Tehran had urged him to escalate his criticism.

Even so, the sources argued that Berri has "left himself a way back" by refusing to withdraw his ministers from the government and helping prevent tensions from spilling into the streets.

Meanwhile, Nidaa Al Watan reported that communication between Aoun and Hezbollah has been completely severed at every level and through all channels.

Direct communication between Aoun and Berri has also ceased, according to the report, although indirect contacts continue through advisers, with messages exchanged exclusively between the two sides' advisory teams.

Visitors to Aoun also said the president has expressed frustration with former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt over his recent criticism of the framework agreement.

According to those visitors, Aoun "does not understand Jumblatt or where he is coming from," arguing that Jumblatt is criticizing state decisions despite previously advocating stronger state institutions, the extension of state authority across all Lebanese territory, and Hezbollah's disarmament.

The visitors described Jumblatt's current position as political posturing that was difficult to understand, noting that Aoun regularly meets ministers and lawmakers affiliated with Jumblatt, keeps them informed of the negotiations and understandings, and says they have consistently expressed support for the state and its decisions.

Amid reports that foreign forces could eventually be deployed along Lebanon's southern border to oversee a final agreement ending the conflict, sources told the newspaper that "nothing is clear yet on this issue, and there is no defined framework regarding the deployment of such forces or their nationalities."

However, they said Aoun may ask Trump during their expected meeting in Washington to support extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for one additional year until all security arrangements under the Lebanese-Israeli agreement have been completed.