Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials have unequivocally stated that Israel will not withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, as well as parts of Syria and Gaza, despite a recently brokered interim agreement between the United States and Iran. Defense Minister Israel Katz affirmed that both he and Netanyahu are pursuing a clear policy to maintain the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in these “security zones” indefinitely. These zones, according to Katz and Netanyahu, are crucial for protecting Israel’s borders and communities from "jihadist elements" and will involve clearing residents and destroying "terror infrastructure," including in contact-line villages.
This firm stance from Israel directly conflicts with interpretations from Iranian officials and statements within the US-Iran deal, which some suggest include a cessation of fighting "on all fronts," including Lebanon. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Yechiel (Michael) Leiter, reiterated that the Trump administration had been "crystal clear" that any agreement with Iran had no bearing on Israel's presence in southern Lebanon. He emphasized that Israel would not withdraw and that Iran had "no business poking their nose into this."
Both Netanyahu and Katz maintained that Israel will not be bound by the US-Iran agreement regarding its military presence in these territories. Hardline Israeli ministers, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have also condemned the deal, asserting that it does not safeguard Israel's security and that Israel is an independent and sovereign country not subordinate to the U.S. Ben-Gvir specifically stated, "Trump's agreement does not bind us."
The Israeli position has emerged amidst a proposed 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, which aims to open doors for negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and other issues. Despite international pressure and the ongoing humanitarian toll of Israel's offensive against Hezbollah—which has resulted in approximately 3,700 Lebanese deaths and 1 million displaced, according to Lebanese health authorities—Israeli officials continue to assert that their actions target "Hezbollah terrorists" and that they do not target civilians. Netanyahu announced that Israel would remain in these occupied territories for "as long as necessary" to protect the country's security interests.
