Israeli Defence Minister orders military to prepare for extended stay in southern Lebanon

Jerusalem, June 27 (IANS) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the Israeli military to prepare for an extended stay in the “security zone” in southern Lebanon, signalling a prolonged military presence despite international calls for withdrawal.

In a video statement released by his office, Katz said the army “will continue to station forces in the security zone in southern Lebanon, including the Shqeif area, and will not withdraw before Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon”.

The defence minister emphasised that the “important principle established in the agreement is that there will be no redeployment by Israel in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal, as long as the terrorist organisation Hezbollah is not disarmed throughout Lebanon”.

The security zone refers to a buffer strip extending approximately 10 kilometres (six miles) inside Lebanese territory along the border, established during the latest war with Hezbollah in 2024 and 2025 and expanded following intensified Israeli attacks since March 2.

The Shqeif area, in particular, is one of southern Lebanon’s most strategic locations, situated on elevated terrain near a bend in the Litani River, overlooking large parts of southern Lebanon and the Galilee in northern Israel.

Katz’s announcement comes just a day after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement that stipulates a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two unnamed pilot areas.

However, the agreement sets no timetable for withdrawal and links it to the Lebanese army assuming full security control over evacuated areas and to the disarmament of all non-state armed groups, specifically referencing Hezbollah.

The defence minister also issued a stark warning to Iran, stating: “If Iran attempts to attack Israel to prevent implementation of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, we will act against it with great force and demonstrate the gap in capabilities between us”. This threat echoes recent statements from Israeli leadership, with Netanyahu saying Israel would remain in southern Lebanon “as long as necessary” to protect its northern border communities.

Earlier this week, both Netanyahu and Katz spoke at a graduation ceremony for combat officers, where they ruled out a full Israeli withdrawal, with Katz stating that the military would remain in security zones “without any time limit” and that Israel would not compromise on what it considers its “supreme security interest”, protecting soldiers and citizens.

This position appears to challenge wider regional efforts to reduce tensions, particularly as the fourth round of US-mediated talks produced a conditional ceasefire framework tied to Hezbollah halting attacks and withdrawing operatives from areas south of the Litani River.

The dispute highlights ongoing challenges facing diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting settlement along the Israel-Lebanon border, where questions over Israeli troop deployments, Hezbollah’s future role, and regional security arrangements remain unresolved.

–IANS

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