Israel rules out withdrawal from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has declared that Israeli forces will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza, saying the military presence is essential for protecting citizens.

Speaking from southern Lebanon while visiting troops, Katz said, "Under no circumstances do we retreat, not in Lebanon, not in Syria, not in Gaza from the security zones." He described the area under Israeli control as stretching "from the seashore in the west to the expanses of Beaufort and the approaches of Mount Hermon in the east."

Katz framed the continued occupation as a direct response to the October 7 attack, arguing that "the lesson of October 7th is that we protect the residents by having the IDF present in these places and defending them."

The remarks come despite a June 26 framework agreement that envisioned Israeli forces withdrawing from southern Lebanon in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. That agreement also outlined steps toward a potential peace deal between Israel and Lebanon, which remain technically at war nearly 80 years after Israel's establishment.

The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began when the Lebanese group fired rockets into Israel days after Israel and the United States launched their war on Iran on February 28. Israel subsequently invaded Lebanon and has occupied a large portion of the country's south. Hezbollah has strongly opposed direct Lebanon-Israel negotiations.