India, June 28 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (local time) announced a US-mediated framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon aimed at achieving "lasting peace and security". The deal calls for a ceasefire, contingent on Hezbollah ending all fire and withdrawing from southern Lebanon. In a post on X, the Department of State quoted Rubio as saying, "SECRETARY RUBIO: We're happy to announce a framework agreement between the sovereign government of Lebanon and the government of Israel, with the mediation and support of the United States of America." Rubio said further, as per Fox News, "And it will take a lot of work and some time to get back to that point, but we believe today is the first step in that journey.

And the ...