Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday evening that Israel has no intention of withdrawing from the Beaufort Castle area in southern Lebanon, which he described as an inseparable part of the IDF security zone and vital for defending Galilee communities and Israeli forces, according to a statement from his office.
Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated on Sunday evening that Israel will not withdraw from the Beaufort Castle area, a key elevation in southern Lebanon that he described as an integral part of the IDF security zone and essential for protecting both northern Israeli communities and Israeli forces operating in the sector. The statement, issued by his office, adds no new operational detail beyond earlier positions but reaffirms Israel's red lines amid ongoing diplomatic discussions on the northern border. The Beaufort area, which commands a strategic view of the Galilee, has been held by the IDF since the ground campaign in Lebanon and has been repeatedly cited by Israeli officials as a non-negotiable security outpost. The remarks come as a series of Israeli officials—including Katz himself, Minister Amichai Shikli, and military analyst Noam Amir—have in recent days publicly outlined Israel's intent to maintain a foothold inside Lebanese territory, particularly along the Yellow Line security zone. Earlier Sunday, Katz said all IDF achievements in the Lebanon campaign were being preserved, with forces operating from the Yellow Line inward.
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- Internal intake