Israel Refuses to Budge from Lebanon, Defense Minister Says: We Will Not Leave Until Hezbollah Is Disarmed

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today that the Israeli military will remain in Lebanon because Hezbollah has not been disarmed and continues to pose a threat.

Katz said the Israeli military is preparing for a “prolonged presence” in Lebanon and will not withdraw from the security zone until Hezbollah is disarmed and the threat he says the group poses throughout Lebanon is eliminated. “I have instructed the Israeli military to prepare for a prolonged presence in the area, with the aim of protecting combat forces and communities until this goal is fully achieved,” Katz said, according to Reuters.

The statement comes as Israel’s position on Gaza also remains unchanged. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the IDF will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas is disarmed. Netanyahu also opposed Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, insisting that Hamas must be fully disarmed before Israeli forces withdraw.

Trump announced on July 30 that an agreement had been reached on the complete disarmament of Hamas, paving the way for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the deployment of an international stabilization force.