Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Israel opposes an IDF withdrawal from Lebanon despite all existing and future pressure, adding that Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed this position to President Trump and that he himself made it clear to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Katz stated that the IDF is operationalizing this stance on the professional-security level, according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio).
Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated Monday morning that Israel opposes any withdrawal of IDF forces from Lebanon, adding that Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed this position to President Trump and that he himself briefed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday. Katz stated that the IDF is "operationalizing" this stance at the professional-security level, according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh (N13 / Army Radio).
The latest remarks follow a series of statements by Katz and Netanyahu over the past 24 hours. As The Zioneer reported, by 09:46 Katz had already warned Iran of an overwhelming response if it attacks over Lebanon, and had told the US that Israel opposes withdrawing from Lebanon. By 09:55, a dedicated bulletin noted Katz specifically criticizing the emerging US-Iran deal as a security failure. The thread's evolution showed a shift from general opposition — first reported at 09:46 across several channels (Amit Segal / N12, Army Radio) — to explicit references to the Iran framework by 09:55 and, by 10:08, to Netanyahu telling Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by the Lebanon clause in the U.S.-Iran agreement.
As The Zioneer reported on Sunday evening (20:52 Jerusalem), Netanyahu had earlier informed Trump that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon clause. A separate background article from Sunday (20:40 Jerusalem) quoted U.S. Vice President Vance saying skepticism of foreign wars does not preclude using force against Iran if needed. The broader context, reported since 09:47, ties Israel's insistence on holding the Lebanon security zone directly to the lessons of October 7, and to a stated open-ended IDF presence in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.
It remains unclear whether Washington has formally responded to Israel's latest reaffirmation, or whether the emerging U.S.-Iran framework includes enforcement mechanisms tied to Israel's position on the Lebanon clause.
6 developments
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Israeli forces are not leaving Lebanon
- DevelopingSenior Israeli security official: IDF will not withdraw from southern Lebanon
- StrongIsrael insists no withdrawal from Lebanon under understandings with Iran
- StrongIran says negotiations will stop if Israel does not withdraw from Lebanon
Source and signal
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