Israel’s military will continue to carry out operations in Lebanon for the time being and will not be withdrawing from the country, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday, despite the announcement of a new ceasefire.
Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday agreed to a new ceasefire following talks mediated by the United States. Under the agreement, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which did not participate in the talks, is to stop all attacks on Israel and withdraw its fighters from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
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In a statement, Katz said that Israel’s military would remain in swathes of southern Lebanon it is occupying as part of what Israel’s government describes as a buffer zone meant to protect northern Israeli communities from Hezbollah attacks.
Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese residents, forced from their homes in the south by Israel’s military since fighting began in March, would also not be allowed to return, he said.
