Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Prime Minister Netanyahu directly communicated to President Trump that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, notwithstanding the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Katz described these zones as one of the IDF's greatest achievements in the war and warned Iran that an attack on Israel over the Lebanon situation would draw a full-force response.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated Monday that Prime Minister Netanyahu has informed President Trump directly that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, regardless of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. Katz said the zones will be cleared of local residents and all terrorist infrastructure dismantled, including residential villages along the contact line that served as forward outposts for Hezbollah.
Katz characterized the IDF's control of these areas as one of its greatest achievements in the conflict, asserting that Israel will not retreat despite existing and anticipated pressures. He warned that should Iran attack Israel due to the situation in Lebanon, Israel would respond with full force.
The statement follows a series of similar declarations in recent days. As The Zioneer reported earlier Monday, Katz previously stated the IDF would maintain an open-ended presence in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The remarks come amid reports of a US-Iran agreement and growing international pressure for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
2 developments
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
- DevelopingNetanyahu tells Trump Israel won't withdraw from Lebanon, abandon north
- StrongNetanyahu told cabinet last week Israel will not withdraw from Lebanon even under US pressure, Yarhi reports
- StrongNetanyahu: IDF controls nearly 70% of Gaza Strip; vows no withdrawal from Lebanon buffer zone
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