Katz: Our Forces Will Remain in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza

Translation by SadaNews - Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, revealed on Monday that there is an agreement between Israel and the United States not to withdraw from the three security areas in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.

This statement came during a meeting with Israeli military reporters, where he provided them with a comprehensive security briefing.

Katz explained that the agreement with the United States was made during a meeting he had with U.S. Central Command Chief General Brad Cooper last Friday at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, as translated by SadaNews.

He stated that linking Iran and Lebanon is a U.S. interest, and without this link, Hezbollah would collapse, pointing out that this came after a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He added: "When President Trump linked Iran and Lebanon, we stopped demolishing buildings in Beirut... The link between Iran and Lebanon is an American interest, and this is one of the constraints of our partnership with the United States. Without this link, Hezbollah would collapse, so we moved to the alternative plan, which is to deepen the Yellow Line area in southern Lebanon."

Katz noted that during the period leading up to the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, there were four phone calls between Netanyahu and Trump, but the change occurred in another call in which he did not participate, while Netanyahu did. Katz remarked about that conversation: "I was not present in the fifth call, and President Trump exerted pressure that ultimately led to communication between the parties. Since that moment, the residents have returned to southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah has strengthened its presence in the south."

Israeli military reporters considered Katz's statements as an implicit accusation against the United States of preventing Hezbollah's collapse because it prevented Israel from taking actions that would have led to the organization's downfall, as well as a hint at Netanyahu's past failure to prevent Trump’s change of stance in the fifth call that Katz did not attend.

Katz claimed during the meeting, as translated by SadaNews, that there would be no further withdrawals after the two specified pilot areas, saying: "People should not place their hopes on where Israel will withdraw next from Lebanon, because it will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed... We have no regional ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah is disarmed, we will not withdraw an inch."

He emphasized that the Israeli army would remain in Lebanon for a long time, questioning the Lebanese army's ability to restrain Hezbollah, asserting that his forces would continue to destroy the infrastructure in Lebanese villages.

Katz revealed that Israel attempted to promote a step that would allow the Lebanese army to enter the Ali Taher Heights and clear them of Hezbollah elements, instead of Israeli forces, but according to him, the Lebanese military refused that.

Regarding Iran, the Israeli Defense Minister stated there are two possibilities for resuming combat, either a decision from President Donald Trump or an Iranian missile launch, which could happen within two days.

He added: The Israeli army is also preparing to act independently in Iran, and the army is waiting for that... We have targets for attack in Iran, and our forces are on standby, but we will not intervene in the U.S. president's actions against the Iranians.