Washington criticises Israel’s plans for military presence in Lebanon

The administration of US President Donald Trump does not support a possible permanent Israeli military presence in Lebanon, as it would violate the agreements reached, Axios journalist Barak Ravid wrote on X, citing a US State Department official.

“The Trump administration criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's remarks about maintaining Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon, stressing that his comments contradict commitments the Israeli government made under the framework agreement with the United States and Lebanon,” Ravid said.

He emphasised that the United States expects all parties to adhere to the agreement they signed. In turn, the presence of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in southern Lebanon is incompatible with the terms of the agreement.

The journalist’s source said Washington “fully supports Lebanon's territorial integrity and sovereignty.” The document signed by the parties in June provides for the redeployment of forces on the condition that Hezbollah is disarmed and its infrastructure dismantled.

Washington’s criticism followed Katz’s visit to Israeli troops deployed in villages near the Lebanese border, where he ordered the military to make operational and logistical preparations for what he described as an extended presence in the area, aimed at locating and destroying Hezbollah tunnels and military infrastructure.

"As the prime minister and I have made unequivocally clear, we are not withdrawing from this security zone," Katz said, describing the area as stretching from the Mediterranean coast in the west to the Beaufort area and the approaches to Mount Hermon in the east.

The minister further signalled that Israel does not plan to relinquish security zones in Lebanon, Syria or the Gaza Strip, presenting the policy as a lesson learned from the October 7 attack. He stressed that maintaining Israeli forces in forward positions is essential to preventing infiltrations and safeguarding Israeli communities.