Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that he abruptly cut off a meeting with the head of Lebanon’s military after the officer declined to describe Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a stance Graham said makes cooperation with the Lebanese Armed Forces untenable.

In a message posted to social media, the South Carolina Republican recounted a brief exchange with Lebanese Chief of Defense Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, explaining why the discussion ended almost as soon as it began. “I just had a very brief meeting with the Lebanese Chief of Defense General Rodolphe Haykal. I asked him point blank if he believes Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. He said, ‘No, not in the context of Lebanon.’ With that, I ended the meeting,” Graham wrote.

Graham followed up by stressing his own position on the Iran-backed group, saying there is no ambiguity about its record. “They are clearly a terrorist organization. Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. Just ask the U.S. Marines,” he added.

The senator noted that Washington’s view of Hezbollah has been consistent across party lines for decades. He pointed out that the group has “been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by both Republican and Democrat administrations since 1997 – for good reason.”

Because of the response he received, Graham said he doubts whether Lebanon’s military can be trusted as a partner. “As long as this attitude exists from the Lebanese Armed Forces, I don’t think we have a reliable partner in them. I am tired of the double speak in the Middle East. Too much is at stake,” he concluded.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a U.S.-supported ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon that obligates Hezbollah to dismantle its armed presence, beginning in areas south of the river near Israel’s border.

In August of last year, Lebanon’s government tasked the Lebanese Armed Forces with preparing a plan to ensure that the state would hold exclusive control over weapons by the end of the year.

Hezbollah has openly rejected that initiative, denouncing the government’s proposal and repeatedly insisting it will not relinquish its arsenal.

The group’s leader, Naim Qassem, recently reinforced that position, declaring that Hezbollah will not surrender its weapons and warning that doing so would amount to “the end of Lebanon.”