Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday the IDF will not withdraw from Lebanon, adding that Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed this position to U.S. President Donald Trump, according to his office.
Defense Minister Israel Katz upped the administration's public messaging Monday by specifying that Prime Minister Netanyahu personally conveyed to President Trump Israel's refusal to withdraw from Lebanon. Katz's remarks, cited by his office, refine the government's stance by naming both Netanyahu's direct engagement with Trump and a separate briefing Katz gave to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The development follows a succession of statements earlier today, all at around Mon 09:46 Jerusalem, in which Katz first said the IDF would remain indefinitely in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza; then warned Iran of an overwhelming response over the Lebanon issue; and subsequently cast the emerging U.S.-Iran deal as a security failure. By 09:46, Katz had also told U.S. officials that Israel opposes a pullout, without specifying the American reply. At 09:46, additional sourcing — Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio) — attributed to Katz the claim that the IDF is operationalizing the no-withdrawal stance at the professional-security level.
The backdrop includes a report from The Zioneer on Sunday, Jun 14, 20:52 Jerusalem, that Netanyahu told Trump Israel is not bound by a Lebanon clause in the U.S.-Iran deal. As The Zioneer reported Friday, Jun 12, Katz had already clarified the IDF would hold security zones in Lebanon, Gaza, and northern Samaria even as U.S.-Iran talks advanced, citing October 7 lessons.
What remains open: Neither Katz's office nor any thread item has detailed President Trump's response to Netanyahu's position, and the precise content or status of the Lebanon clause in the U.S.-Iran framework has not been disclosed.
6 developments
- DevelopingNo official confirmation released on reported US-Iran deal terms for Lebanon
- StrongSenior Israeli officials: US understands Israel will not compromise on Lebanon withdrawal
- StrongSenior Israeli official: Lebanon line holds as Iran fails to link fronts
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
Source and signal
- Internal intake