Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said on Wednesday that Israel would not withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, a position he described as a key sticking point in ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran over a peace agreement. Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he had made the position “unequivocally clear”. He added that the Israeli military would remain in the area it is securing, framing the move as part of the government’s security doctrine rather than a matter for negotiation. Troops to Stay in the Security ZoneKatz said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would remain where they are and would not “move” from the security zone. He also said Israel would continue operations aimed at clearing the area and protecting people in northern parts of the country. Katz stressed that Israel would not withdraw from security zones under any circumstances, naming locations beyond Lebanon as well. He said the policy applied to “Lebanon, Syria and Gaza”, indicating that any decision about withdrawals would not change the IDF’s posture across those areas. Clearing the Area and Protecting ResidentsIn his remarks, Katz linked the continued presence of forces to protection of civilians from attacks. He said the government’s approach reflects what he described as lessons from 7 October, when Israeli communities were subjected to attacks that included raids and gunfire. Katz argued that the IDF’s presence in these places helps prevent such incidents. According to his statement, Israel’s policy is to maintain forces in relevant locations as a means of deterrence and protection. He said this is the doctrine guiding military planning. Katz pointed to the Beaufort fortress as an example of how the policy is intended to work in practice, describing it as illustrating the meaning of the government’s approach. Context for US-Iran NegotiationsThe defence minister’s comments come as negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue regarding a broader peace agreement. Katz described southern Lebanon as a central issue in those talks, implying that any expected steps related to troop movements would not be part of Israel’s position. He said Israel would not withdraw from the relevant area, and he repeated that the IDF would continue to operate from its current positions. Government Position on WithdrawalsKatz’s statement was framed as a clear rejection of any expectation of a drawdown of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. He maintained that the security zone will be upheld through the continued deployment of the IDF, and he said Israel will protect residents by keeping forces present where they are operating. Join the discussion? 14 August 2026
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