Israel is determined to maintain the security zone it created in southern Lebanon. The country's defense minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces will not leave the region until the threat from Hezbollah is eliminated.
According to the minister, Israel did not seek permission from anyone to operate in Lebanese territory and does not need any agreement to remain in the area.
"We did not ask anyone for permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need anyone's permission to stay there."
Katz emphasized that Israel's objective in southern Lebanon is to maintain the security zone that has been established, to completely disarm Hezbollah, and to maintain military presence until the threat to the population living on Israel's northern border is eliminated.
The minister made these remarks following comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump at the NATO summit held in Ankara. Trump had suggested that Israel would withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon and expressed interest in taking a step with official Tel Aviv.
Katz, however, denied these possibilities, noting that Israel's main task is to protect the residents of the Galilee region and the country's citizens from Hezbollah attacks. According to him, the organization has conducted military operations against Israel twice in recent times: first following the October 7 events, and second during operations against Iran when it fired on Israeli territory.
The defense minister added that over the past two and a half years, the Israeli military has eliminated a large portion of Hezbollah's military potential, dealt serious blows to the organization's leadership, and destroyed key figures of the leadership, including former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah.
According to Katz, the Israeli military has currently created a security zone in Lebanese territory extending from the Mediterranean coast to the Beaufort region, and in the east to the direction of Mount Hermon. He claimed that the territory is being cleared of armed groups, the above-ground and underground military infrastructure of terrorists is being destroyed, and all these measures serve to ensure the security of Israel's northern region.