TEL AVIV: Israel says troops to remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza until further notice
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that Israeli troops will remain stationed in the “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza “until further notice”, reaffirming Israel’s intention to maintain its military presence in the three territories.
According to a statement issued by Israel’s Defence Ministry, Katz said the troops were occupying these areas to protect Israel’s residents and communities from what he described as “jihadist terrorists”. “We will not withdraw from the security zones,” he said while addressing a ceremony honouring Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war in Lebanon.
Katz also repeated an earlier warning directed at Iran, saying Israel would respond with “full force” if Tehran launched an attack against Israel over its ongoing military operations in southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have consistently ruled out withdrawing troops from Lebanon, where Israeli forces continue to clash with Hezbollah fighters. They maintain that any withdrawal will only be considered after Hezbollah has been disarmed.
Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel has also carried out repeated military incursions and air strikes in Syria. In Gaza, Israeli forces currently occupy nearly 70 percent of the territory.