The US administration criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz after he said the Israeli military would remain in southern Lebanon within “security zones”.
The criticism comes after a history of US support to all the Zionist wars on Lebanon, the latest of which is the ongoing Israeli aggression on Lebanon since March 2, 2026.
A US State Department official said Washington expected all parties to abide by the agreed framework, noting that ‘Israel’ had previously made clear it did not seek to occupy Lebanese territory.
“Any permanent military presence in southern Lebanon is inconsistent with the framework commitments and with the long-term peace and security of both countries,” the official said.
The statement said Katz’s remarks contradicted previous Israeli assurances that it had no territorial ambitions in Lebanon and undermined diplomatic efforts to establish regional stability.
It reaffirmed” full US support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty”, adding that the US-brokered framework provided for a conditions-based gradual redeployment linked to the verified “disarmament of Hezbollah and dismantling of its infrastructure”.
The statement also praised the Lebanese Army’s implementation of the first pilot zone and reaffirmed continued US support for the process.
Source: Al-Manar English Website