Defense Minister Israel Katz said the U.S. linking the Lebanon and Iran fronts was an American interest that stopped the IDF from dismantling Hezbollah. He claimed President Trump's policy shift followed a fifth call with Prime Minister Netanyahu in which Katz was not on the line — an implicit criticism of both leaders.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated Monday evening that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to link the Iran and Lebanon theaters served American interests — and prevented the IDF from dismantling Hezbollah. Briefing military correspondents, Katz said Israel had been forced to abandon its original plan to collapse Hezbollah through intensive strikes on Beirut's Dahiyeh and border villages, moving instead to a 'Plan B' of deepening the 'yellow line' security zone in south Lebanon.
Katz revealed that before the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding was signed, four phone calls took place between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump. A fifth conversation — in which Katz was not present — produced the policy shift: 'The president applied pressure, and in the end the arenas were linked. From that moment, residents returned to south Lebanon and Hezbollah thickened its presence there,' Katz said. The remarks constitute an implicit accusation against both Netanyahu and Trump for enabling Hezbollah's survival.
On the ground level, Katz provided a status update on Operation 'Plow of Silver' — the destruction of villages along the contact line: nearly 100% in the western and central sectors, and 73% in the eastern sector. He said some 200,000 south Lebanese residents within the yellow line will not return to their homes, and that 700,000 Shia have fled Dahiyeh and 600,000 from south Lebanese villages.
Katz also said that Israel is not preparing for further withdrawals beyond the two pilot zones where the Lebanese army has entered, stressing: 'Until Hezbollah disarms, we will not withdraw a millimeter.' He confirmed that the IDF retains a long-term presence in Lebanon, and that a third security zone — in addition to those in Syria and Gaza — remains in place, as agreed with CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper during a meeting on Friday.
As The Zioneer reported at 16:16 today, Katz had earlier tied the Iran and Lebanon arenas and attributed Trump's shift to a Netanyahu call. The current briefing adds explicit criticism of both leaders and a detailed operational assessment.
On the Iran front, Katz stated: 'There are two situations in which fighting will resume — President Trump's decision or Iranian missile fire. It could happen in two days.' He said the IDF is preparing for a 'Blue-White' independent operation in Iran, adding: 'We have targets to strike, the IDF is ready and alert — but we will not interfere with the U.S. president's course vis-à-vis the Iranians.'
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