The Trump administration has pushed back against Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s pledge that Israeli forces will remain indefinitely in southern Lebanon, saying such a move would contradict commitments Israel made under a U.S.-backed framework agreement with Lebanon.

A U.S. State Department official said Washington expects all parties to honor the terms of the framework, which provides for a gradual Israeli redeployment linked to progress in disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its military infrastructure.

“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 told Axios.

“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 official also reaffirmed Washington’s support for Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“The United States fully supports Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the official said.

Under the framework, the Israeli withdrawal is tied to verified progress on the Lebanese side, with the Lebanese Armed Forces responsible for implementing initial “pilot zones” and disarming Hezbollah and dismantling its infrastructure in those areas.

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

The comments came after Katz said during a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday that Israel intended to maintain its military presence there 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. “I have instructed the IDF to take all the necessary steps to prepare for a long-term presence in the area.”

“As the Prime Minister and I have made unequivocally clear, we are not withdrawing from this security zone,” he added.