Israel will leave troops in Lebanon, not accepting the objection of the United States

Photo: Collected

News Desk: Israel will not withdraw its troops from the “security zone” it has seized in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said.

Speaking at an event on Thursday (August 13), Katz said he had instructed the military to prepare for a long-term presence in the occupied area.

Katz said Israeli forces would remain in the security zone in Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed and the organization’s threat across Lebanon is eliminated. He also ordered preparations to be made for maintaining a prolonged military presence there to ensure the security of Israeli troops and communities near the border.

Katz’s remarks came after the United States had expressed objections to the possibility of a long-term Israeli military presence. Washington said a permanent Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon would not be consistent with the framework agreement brokered by the United States. Under that agreement, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces is linked to the verification of Hezbollah’s disarmament.

However, Katz’s statement indicated that Israel does not intend to proceed with a withdrawal until Hezbollah is completely disarmed. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continued to refuse to discuss its weapons until Israeli forces withdraw from Lebanon.

As a result, a deadlock has emerged over which should come first—the withdrawal of Israeli forces or Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Under the US-brokered framework, the Lebanese army has already begun operations in several initial “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon. There are plans to expand the scope of these areas in the next phase. However, differences between Israel and Hezbollah over the terms of the process have left the overall situation uncertain.

Katz’s position also mirrors that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Gaza issue. Netanyahu has likewise made the complete disarmament of Hamas a precondition for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Israel is scheduled to hold national elections on October 27. It will be the country’s first election since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ahead of the election, Netanyahu’s Likud Party is emphasizing a tough stance on security issues. Katz’s latest remarks are therefore gaining particular significance in that political context.

If the Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon is prolonged, it could trigger renewed tensions over Lebanon’s sovereignty, Hezbollah’s disarmament, and the future of the Israel-Lebanon agreement.