He explained that the timeline remains flexible and dependent on real benchmarks on the ground.
"The agreement facilitates Israel’s continued presence in a security zone until such time that the Lebanese army is strong enough and supported enough by the United States in order to assume full responsibility over Lebanese sovereignty," Leiter said.
He emphasized that further territory handovers would only occur as Hezbollah is systematically disarmed.
"This will be a staged and performance-based move forward to the degree that the Lebanese army performs in dismantling and disarming Hezbollah," Leiter said.
He outlined the subsequent phases of the border stabilization plan: "We will proceed with additional pilot zones and the ultimate determination of an internationally recognized, secure and agreed-upon border."
Leiter argued that true Lebanese self-determination cannot coexist with the presence of militant factions.
"(Lebanese sovereignty) is not going to be expressed fully as long as Hezbollah is occupying their country," he said.
Leiter concluded by stating that foreign military operations would continue until security threats are resolved.
"These are hostile occupiers of Lebanon," he said, emphasizing the finality of the disarmament prerequisite: "They need to go out."
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the agreement, viewing it as a pathway toward independent statehood free from parallel authorities.
He said Lebanese citizens would "return to their fully liberated land … under sovereignty of a Lebanese state that has no partner in its sovereignty over its land and its people."
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem rejected the Washington accord, labeling the concessions made by the Lebanese government as "humiliation."
