According to comments carried by The Times of Israel, the defence minister ruled out any withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area, arguing that previous security arrangements had exposed Israeli forces to attacks.
Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has declared that Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon despite international pressure and potential demands from the United States, signalling a hardening of Israel's position even as a ceasefire with Hezbollah takes effect.
According to Aljazeera, Katz made the remarks amid ongoing discussions about the future of Israeli military deployments in southern Lebanon following months of cross-border hostilities and a recently announced ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to comments carried by The Times of Israel, the defence minister ruled out any withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area, arguing that previous security arrangements had exposed Israeli forces to attacks.
“200,000 residents will not return,” said Katz, referring to the Lebanese forcibly displaced by Israel’s invasion and attacks.
