IDF Will Stay in Southern Lebanon Despite US Pressure: Israel's Defence Minister

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has asserted that Israeli military forces will maintain their presence in southern Lebanon, declaring that Tel Aviv will not pull back its troops despite potential diplomatic pressure from Washington.

In remarks carried by The Times of Israel, Katz explicitly stated that the military would remain positioned in the region "even if there is an American demand."

Addressing the status of the security zone, the Defence Minister also ruled out the immediate resettlement of displaced Lebanese civilians, stating, "200,000 residents will not return."

Katz explained that historical security challenges encountered in past operational zones heavily informed the government's decision to retain a military foothold across the northern border.

"What happened in the past in security zones, where there was also a civilian population [present], was roadside bombs and attacks against the soldiers, and therefore we will not allow that," Katz noted.

What did Israel Katz mean by saying 'We are not withdrawing' from southern Lebanon?

Emphasising Tel Aviv's firm operational stance on the ground, the Defence Minister reinforced the message, adding, "We are not withdrawing."

This position aligns with a high-level development on Tuesday, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo held a telephonic conversation and, in a joint statement, reiterated that the IDF will continue acting decisively "against threats" in Lebanon.

"The IDF will continue to act decisively to thwart threats to our soldiers and civilians, destroy terror infrastructure, and continue maintaining the security zone in southern Lebanon," Netanyahu, Katz, and Zamir said in the joint statement.

The leadership emphasised that operational parameters on the ground would be driven entirely by defensive priorities, making it clear that "the security of Israeli citizens and IDF forces will remain their guiding principle without compromise".

Further underscoring this unified stance, Netanyahu shared a video on his official X handle, stating the Israeli military has full freedom of action against threats in southern Lebanon.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that Israeli forces will remain in the security zone for as long as necessary to safeguard themselves or the residents of the north from any "direct or emerging threat".

Netanyahu underscored that the strategic military presence along the border remains unyielding under current conditions, adding, "I stand firm on the fact that we will remain in the security zone in southern Lebanon for as long as is required to protect the residents of the north and all the citizens of the state."

(With inputs from ANI)