Israel has decided to maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting the Iran-backed Hezbollah, despite the recent peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on Monday that if Iran were to attack Israel due to the events in Lebanon, Israel would retaliate "with full force".
He further stated that Israel will not compromise on its security interests and the protection of its citizens, reported the Times of Israel.
Katz vowed Israel would continue to stay in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza "without any time limit." While there was no immediate comment from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, members of his coalition have stated that Israel will "not be bound" by the terms of the U.S.-Iran agreement, according to the report.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel must halt its military operations in Lebanon for the U.S.-backed peace deal to take effect.
