Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz spoke overnight Thursday with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, responding to President Trump's remarks on Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria and southern Lebanon, according to the Defense Ministry. 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. Hegseth briefed Katz on US military activity in Iran, and the two agreed to continue cooperation.
Defense Minister Israel Katz told US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in an overnight call Thursday that Israel has never asked the United States to act on its borders and will remain in security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon, according to the Defense Ministry. Katz's remarks came in direct response to President Trump's comments in an interview regarding Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria and southern Lebanon, the ministry added.
The Zioneer first reported the call at 08:36 Jerusalem, with Hegseth briefing Katz on US military operations in Iran and the two agreeing to continue cooperation. Over subsequent updates, Katz's reiteration of Israel's commitment to security zones—citing the October 7 lessons—was confirmed by the Defense Ministry. The detail that the conversation was triggered by Trump's interview remarks emerged in a later readout. This follows earlier reports this week that Katz and Prime Minister Netanyahu had communicated the same position directly to Trump and Hegseth, rejecting any withdrawal pressure (The Zioneer, Mon Jun 15, 12:50 Jerusalem).
The Zioneer has reported for weeks that Katz and Netanyahu are determined to maintain an open-ended military presence across the three fronts as a war achievement and a direct lesson of the October 7 attacks, pushing back against what they see as external pressure, including from the US administration. Katz has repeatedly stated that the IDF will stay in the security zones 'until further notice' and warned Iran of a 'full-force' response to any attack.
The US administration's stance on the Israeli security zones remains unclear. Trump's interview remarks, which prompted Katz's response, have not been formally detailed by the White House, and the extent of US pressure on Israel to withdraw from southern Syria and southern Lebanon is not publicly known.
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