Jerusalem, 24 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that forces will not be withdrawn from southern Lebanon, even if Washington demands such a move.
“Even if there is an American demand, we will not withdraw from southern Lebanon,” Katz said at the Local Government Center Conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
“Two hundred thousand residents will not return. There are no residents and there are no terrorists. Why? Because what happened in the past in security zones where there was also a civilian population was IEDs and terrorist attacks against soldiers, and therefore we do not allow this,” Katz insisted.
“Soldiers inside, residents outside. The infrastructure is destroyed, the houses are threatening and destroyed. We are not withdrawing,” he added.