Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement on Friday following months of US-brokered negotiations aimed at de-escalating long-standing border disputes.

The deal marks a significant diplomatic step between the two nations, which technically remain at war, but it notably does not include the powerful Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. This omission raises immediate questions about the agreement's potential to halt the frequent cross-border hostilities that have plagued the frontier for decades.

Hezbollah's Absence Raises Concerns

Hezbollah, which exerts considerable political and military influence within Lebanon, was not a signatory to the agreement, according to BBC World reporting. Its absence presents a substantial hurdle for the full implementation and sustained effectiveness of the accord, given the group's direct involvement in past and present border skirmishes with Israel.

The framework establishes a foundation for future, more detailed discussions on contentious issues, including maritime boundary demarcation and potential resource sharing in offshore gas fields. Analysts suggest the US sought to build on its recent diplomatic successes in the region by facilitating this latest effort to stabilise one of the Middle East's most volatile borders.

History of Border Tensions and Failed Accords

Previous ceasefire arrangements and understandings between Israel and Lebanon have frequently failed to prevent near-daily skirmishes along their shared frontier. These often involve rocket fire from Lebanese territory and retaliatory Israeli strikes, sometimes escalating into wider conflicts.

The 1949 armistice agreement, which formally ended the 1948 Arab-Israeli War for both nations, established a temporary