Defense Minister Israel Katz told reporters Monday that Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, and warned that war with Iran could erupt as soon as tomorrow. 'We are prepared for that,' he said, according to Israel Hayom.
Defense Minister Israel Katz, in a conversation with reporters on Monday evening, laid out two core security positions. First, he affirmed that the IDF will maintain its positions in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed nationwide — a direct reiteration of his Saturday statement calling the Lebanese framework a 'historic achievement' while conditioning withdrawal on disarmament. Second, Katz warned that the military campaign against Iran is far from over, saying Israel could find itself 'already tomorrow' in another war with Iran, and that the IDF is ready for that scenario. The remarks, reported by Israel Hayom correspondent Lilach Shoval, come amid a tense period on the northern border, where Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened to return to border villages and challenged the Lebanese army's ability to enforce the ceasefire. Katz did not cite any specific intelligence about an imminent Iranian attack, but his warning matches his recent pattern of public statements signaling readiness for escalation beyond the current fronts. The timing of the briefing — in the early evening — suggests it was a pre-planned security update rather than a response to a specific overnight event.
4 developments
- StrongDefense Minister Katz: IDF ordered to prepare for 'Operation White-Blue' in Iran
- DevelopingSenior IDF official says military preparing to operate independently in Iran soon
- DevelopingIsrael's Katz: Campaign against Iran far from over; IDF ready to strike Iran with great force
- StrongUS and Iran signal breakthrough on nuclear deal as Israel orders IDF to prepare for independent action
Source and signal
- Internal intake