Defense Minister Israel Katz issued an official statement Friday affirming that the IDF will maintain its position in the Lebanon security zone, spanning from the coastline to the heights of Beaufort Castle. The statement reinforces Israel's security-first posture on the northern border, explicitly defining the security zone's geographic scope.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued an official statement Friday afternoon stating that the IDF will remain in the Lebanon security zone "from the seashore up to the heights of Beaufort." The statement, released at 13:16 Jerusalem time, marks the first time Katz has explicitly delineated the security zone's coastal-to-mountain span in one formulation.
The declaration follows a series of senior Israeli officials' statements this week reiterating Israel's intention to maintain an open-ended military presence in southern Lebanon. As The Zioneer reported earlier this week, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Thursday evening that forces would stay "as long as security needs require," and Defense Minister Katz had previously communicated the position to the Trump administration. A Channel 14 military correspondent report Thursday evening similarly assessed that the IDF would remain at Beaufort and the Hermon Ridge while withdrawing from Nabatieh and the Litani line — Katz's new wording appears to echo that emerging posture.
The Beaufort Castle area, a hilltop overlooking southern Lebanon, was a key Hezbollah stronghold before and during the 2006 war. The IDF re-secured the area during the current campaign and has maintained a visible presence there. The statement makes no mention of Syria or Gaza, in contrast to earlier broader declarations by Katz that included those fronts.
2 developments
- StrongKatz: IDF will stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza security zones indefinitely, rejects withdrawal pressure
- StrongNoam Amir: IDF to remain in Beaufort and Hermon Ridge security zone but withdraw from Nabatieh and Litani
- StrongIsraeli official: Ceasefire stands, IDF strikes Hezbollah threats in south Lebanon
- DevelopingKatz: 'Whoever raises a hand against Israel will pay a price; we won't leave security zones'
Source and signal
- Internal intake