Israeli Defense Minister: The army will remain in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for a long time

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz visited Lebanon on Wednesday, announcing that the Israeli military would remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.

His remarks were not well received in the United States, and a U.S. State Department official later stated that Washington “expects all parties to act in a manner consistent with the framework they have agreed upon, and Israel has clearly indicated that it does not seek any regional ambitions in Lebanon.”

According to the U.S. official, “a permanent military presence in southern Lebanon is inconsistent with the commitments outlined in the framework or with the long-term peace and security of both countries.”

He added that the United States fully supports Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and that the framework clearly stipulates a phased redeployment linked to the verifiable disarmament of Hezbollah and the dismantling of its infrastructure.