DUBAI: The Trump administration has criticized Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s comments to keeps troops in southern Lebanon, as his declarations contravened commitments made by the Israeli government under the agreement signed with the US and Lebanon. “The United States expects all parties to act in accordance with the framework agreement they have agreed upon, and Israel has clearly stated that it has no territorial aspirations in Lebanon,” Axios journalist Barak Ravid posted on social media, quoting a senior official in the US State Department.

The Trump administration does not support a permanent Israeli military presence inside Lebanon, a State Department official told Al Arabiya English on

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF will remain in Lebanon’s security zone, prompting the US to warn that a permanent presence would violate the agreed framework; Washington…