U.S. Pushes Back on Katz’s Call for Long-Term Lebanon Presence – Axios
The Trump administration criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s remarks that Israel would maintain its occupation of southern Lebanon, Axios’ Barak Ravid reports, saying they contradict commitments made under the framework agreement with the U.S. and Lebanon.
“The United States expects all parties to act in a manner consistent with the Framework they agreed to,” a State Department official said, stressing that Israel had clearly stated it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon. “A permanent military presence in South Lebanon is not consistent with the commitments made in the Framework, or the long-term peace and security of both states.”
The official said the U.S. “fully supports Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty” and that the Framework provides for a conditions-based progressive redeployment tied to verified Hezbollah disarmament and the dismantling of its infrastructure. The Lebanese Armed Forces are implementing the first pilot zones, with continued U.S. support for the process.
Earlier Wednesday, Katz said during a visit to southern Lebanon that Israel’s military presence there would continue indefinitely.
“The IDF is here to stay in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza to protect the entire State of Israel,” Katz said. He said he had instructed the IDF to prepare for a long-term presence and reiterated that Israel is “not withdrawing from this security zone.”
