Eleven days after Lebanon and Israel signed a U.S.-brokered framework, the agreement has yet to produce any tangible developments on the ground, raising concerns that both regional and domestic factors could delay or derail its implementation.

Political and diplomatic sources cited by Nidaa Al-Watan say the lack of progress reflects growing attempts to obstruct the framework, either through Israel's reluctance to begin withdrawing from occupied areas or through Hezbollah's efforts to buy time while awaiting the outcome of U.S.-Iran negotiations during a 60-day window.

Against that backdrop, President Joseph Aoun's expected visit to Washington—reportedly scheduled for July 21 for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump—has taken on added significance. The visit is expected to focus on turning the framework from a political understanding into concrete action, beginning with the implementation of "pilot areas," followed by a phased Israeli withdrawal and the extension of Lebanese state authority across the country after Hezbollah is disarmed.

Political and security assessments suggest, however, that the success of the initiative depends not only on continued U.S. backing but also on the Lebanese state's ability to enforce its commitments at home.

According to the assessments, Hezbollah is attempting to reorganize its military presence in southern Lebanon and preserve its leverage there in an effort to obstruct—or at least slow—the implementation of the framework until the regional picture between Washington and Tehran becomes clearer.

The sources argue that the Lebanese government should continue implementing the framework without hesitation or compromise, warning that failure to confront attempts to undermine the agreement could squander what they describe as a rare opportunity to fully restore the country's sovereignty.

Diplomatic warning over delays

A diplomatic source in Beirut warned Nidaa Al Watan that Hezbollah, with the backing of certain domestic actors, is attempting to use the 60-day U.S.-Iran negotiating period to delay implementation of the framework's first military and security phase.

According to the source, the initial phase is intended to begin with an Israeli withdrawal from designated pilot areas, followed by the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the removal of weapons and armed groups from those areas, making it the first practical test of the parties' commitment to the agreement.

"The available field information, intelligence reports and public positions indicate that Hezbollah is effectively preventing the launch of the first phase in the pilot areas," the source said.

The diplomat argued that Hezbollah's position serves Israel's interests by giving it grounds to avoid fulfilling its own commitments under the framework.

The source also warned that some Lebanese actors are reinforcing the delays by arguing that implementation should be postponed to avoid clashes with local residents, saying such arguments undermine prospects for launching the agreement and risk rendering it meaningless.

The diplomat added that Lebanon currently enjoys an unprecedented level of U.S. political support and a clear American endorsement of its agenda, but warned that continued delays justified by claims of incapacity or fears of internal strife could ultimately erode that support.

The source also cautioned against relying on what was described as the "Islamabad track" as an alternative to implementing commitments on the ground, saying such an approach would only drag Lebanon into a deeper political and security crisis.

Pilot areas still under discussion

Another round of Lebanese-Israeli talks is expected to take place in Rome on July 14 and 15, according to Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter.

Meanwhile, Nidaa Al Watan reported that discussions over the proposed pilot areas, led by U.S. Marine Corps General Joseph Clearfield of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), remain focused primarily on the Israeli side.

According to the report, Lebanese authorities have yet to receive any formal notification from Washington regarding the next stage of implementation.

Further contacts are expected in the coming hours to finalize arrangements for the pilot areas, while a U.S. military technical delegation is also expected to arrive to prepare the ground for implementation.

The newspaper said Washington has achieved relative success in maintaining the ceasefire, describing that as a positive indicator on which further progress could be built.

Aoun rules out civil war

President Joseph Aoun reinforced his commitment to stability during a call with the American Task Force on Lebanon, stressing the importance of deploying the Lebanese Army along the entire southern border and urging continued pressure on Israel to withdraw from Lebanese territory.

"The Lebanese Army and the security forces are the cornerstone of stability and security in the south and of enabling residents to return to their towns and homes," Aoun said.

"There is no place for civil war in Lebanon. A return to civil conflict is not on the table, despite repeated attempts by some to stir sectarian tensions."

Berri rejects Netanyahu's claims

As Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal discussed preparations for implementing the framework, including the start of Israel's withdrawal from the pilot areas, remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming that some Christian villages in southern Lebanon wanted to join Israel continued to provoke reactions.

The villages strongly denied the allegations.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri praised statements issued by municipal leaders and religious authorities in the border communities, particularly Christian villages in the Marjayoun and Bint Jbeil districts.

He singled out the municipality of Rmeish for rejecting what he described as Netanyahu's "false claims."

Berri warned Lebanese against falling for what he called Israeli political disinformation designed to sow division among residents of the border region.

"The people of the border villages have always shared the same concern, the same wound, the same hope and the same pain," he said. "Their common goal remains ending the war, liberating the land, returning to it, and rebuilding what Israeli aggression has destroyed and continues to destroy every day."

Israeli escalation continues

Meanwhile, the Israeli military issued warning messages to residents of several towns in the Marjayoun district, including Ibl al-Saqi, Qlayaa, Burj al-Moulouk and Deir Mimas, calling on them to prevent the return of "strangers" to their villages, an apparent reference to Hezbollah members.

Israel also continued its military escalation by repeating its recent pattern of targeting vehicles.

An Israeli drone struck a Jeep Cherokee near the Teachers' Training Institute in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, killing four people.