Defense Minister Israel Katz told military correspondents Monday that President Trump prevented the collapse of Hezbollah by linking the Lebanon and Iran fronts in negotiations. Katz also revealed a massive, previously unknown tunnel destroyed this week, saying hundreds of tons of explosives were required. The defense minister assessed that Iran has not yet decided on returning to its nuclear program.
Defense Minister Israel Katz told military correspondents Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump prevented Hezbollah's collapse by linking the Lebanon and Iran fronts in negotiations. Katz made the remark during a briefing that touched on the northern front, Iran's nuclear program, and regional diplomacy, as The Zioneer reported.
Katz had first made a similar claim in an earlier briefing on Monday (16:03 Jerusalem), saying the U.S. decision to tie the Lebanon and Iran arenas was an American interest that stopped the IDF from dismantling Hezbollah. Over the course of the day, Katz expanded his remarks: by the 16:03 update, he was already warning that 1,200 Hezbollah operatives remain between the border fence and the Litani River, revealing a previously unknown massive tunnel destroyed by the IDF, and assessing that Iran has not yet decided whether to return to its nuclear program. The criticism of Trump sharpened across versions, with Katz implicitly blaming both Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu — claiming the policy shift followed a fifth call between Netanyahu and Trump in which Katz was not on the line, according to earlier thread items.
As The Zioneer reported on June 15, the emerging U.S.-Iran deal reportedly includes a Lebanon clause that has caused deep disappointment in Jerusalem. Netanyahu told Trump on June 14 that Israel is not bound by the Lebanon clause, and on June 15 Katz said Netanyahu directly communicated to Trump that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The defense minister reiterated that stance Monday, telling the commander of U.S. Central Command that Israel will not pull back from security zones.
It remains unclear whether Katz's assessment of Trump's motives is based on direct knowledge of U.S. deliberations. Katz also said Iran has not yet decided whether to return to its nuclear program, calling renewed hostilities a potential "third Iran war" — but offered no evidence for Tehran's internal calculus.
9 developments
- DevelopingKatz: IDF thwarting Hezbollah tunnels, destroying terror infrastructure near Lebanon border fence
- StrongKatz calls Lebanon deal a historic achievement, vows no IDF withdrawal until Hezbollah disarmed
- DevelopingTrump reportedly sides with Iran on demand that Israel stop attacking Hezbollah
- DevelopingKatz warns threat of Hezbollah invasion from Lebanon persists, reveals massive unknown tunnel
Source and signal
- Internal intake