Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on Wednesday that Israeli forces will not withdraw from designated "security zones" in southern Lebanon, Gaza, or Syria. Katz made these pronouncements during a visit to the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, an area Israel considers part of its security zone.
Katz's firm stance comes nearly two months after Israel and Lebanon, with US sponsorship, agreed to a framework deal. This agreement outlines a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, contingent upon the verified disarmament of Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah, which is not a signatory to the deal, has rejected the disarmament requirement.
During his visit, Katz stated that the Israeli military was actively "destroying the underground infrastructure" and "destroying all the houses" within the security zone in southern Lebanon. He reiterated that the troops were present to protect northern Israeli communities and their own forces, vowing not to withdraw from these zones.
The US has since voiced criticism of Katz's remarks, asserting they contradict Israel's commitments under the recently agreed-upon framework. New talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials are scheduled for early September in Rome to further discuss the implementation of the deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously rejected US-led plans for Gaza, stating that Israel would not withdraw until Hamas was disarmed and would continue to counter threats to its forces and citizens. Israel has also conducted operations in Syria, aiming to establish a demilitarized zone, and occupies a significant portion of Gaza.
