Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israeli forces will not withdraw from areas under their control in Lebanon and Syria.
During a press briefing, Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli military will continue its presence in occupied areas of Lebanon, and that withdrawal from these territories is not part of his government’s agenda.
Al Jazeera reported today that Netanyahu said Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon’s “security buffer zone,” an area where Israel controls approximately 570 square kilometers of Lebanese territory.
The Israeli prime minister also referred to his disagreements with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying: “I do not always agree with Trump on all issues. In many matters we share common views, and in some we have differences. I am responsible for safeguarding Israel’s security interests and I will defend them.”
At the same time, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also stated that the Israeli army will not withdraw from areas it has taken control of in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza since 2023. He stressed that maintaining a military presence in these areas is part of Israel’s security policy.
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