The Trump administration has criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s remarks about maintaining Israel’s military presence in southern Lebanon, saying they contradict commitments made by the Israeli government under a framework agreement with the United States and Lebanon.

Axar.az reports that Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that a US State Department official said Washington expects all parties to act in accordance with the framework agreement.

“The United States expects all parties to act in a manner consistent with the Framework they agreed to, and Israel clearly stated that it has no territorial ambitions in Lebanon,” the official said.

“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 added.

The State Department official stressed that the United States “fully supports Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

“The Framework clearly includes a conditions-based path for progressive redeployment tied to verified disarmament of Hizballah and the dismantlement of their infrastructure. The Lebanese Armed Forces are implementing the first pilot zones, and the United States will continue to support full implementation of that process,” the official said.

It should be noted that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said that Israel will not withdraw from the security zone.