Defense Minister Israel Katz and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke overnight, following President Trump's interview remarks on Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria and Lebanon, according to the Defense Ministry. Hegseth briefed Katz on US military operations in Iran, and the two agreed to continue cooperation. Katz reiterated that Israel has never asked the US to act on its borders and is committed to maintaining security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon as a lesson of October 7.
Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke overnight Thursday with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a call that came after President Trump's remarks on Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria and southern Lebanon, the Defense Ministry said. Hegseth briefed Katz on US military activity in Iran, and the two agreed to continue cooperation against any possible development. Katz reiterated that Israel has never asked the US to act on its borders and is committed to maintaining security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon, describing the continued presence as a central lesson of the October 7 attacks.
The Zioneer first reported the call at 08:36 Jerusalem, with initial details that Hegseth had updated Katz on US operations in Iran. Subsequent updates through the morning added that Katz had used the call to directly respond to Trump's remarks, delivering a categorical rejection of any withdrawal pressure.
The overnight conversation is the latest in a series of emphatic statements by Katz rejecting withdrawal from the security zones, a position he has repeatedly articulated since June. As The Zioneer reported on June 15, Katz confirmed that Prime Minister Netanyahu had communicated the position directly to President Trump and to Secretary Hegseth. The defense minister reiterated the stance on July 1, stating the IDF would stay in the zones 'until further notice.'
The Defense Ministry statement did not provide operational details of the US military operations in Iran that Hegseth briefed Katz on.
6 developments
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
- StrongKatz: Netanyahu told Trump Israel won't withdraw from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones
- StrongDefense Minister Katz to Trump: Israel did not ask permission to enter Lebanon, will not need it to stay
- StrongDefense Minister Katz speaks with US counterpart Hegseth
Source and signal
- Internal intake