Israel tells the U.S. Pentagon chief that Israeli forces will continue operating in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza by maintaining “security zones,” according to reports. The statements come days after U.S. President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria and Lebanon. Multiple outlets report that Israel’s position is communicated directly to the Pentagon leadership, indicating that Israel does not plan a full withdrawal from those areas in line with the U.S. request. The accounts describe the “security zones” as the mechanism Israel says it will use to manage security concerns across the three locations. While the reports focus on the messaging to U.S. officials, they also highlight the apparent divergence between U.S. expectations for troop reductions in Syria and Lebanon and Israel’s stated intention to keep forces there for security purposes. Both outlets frame the development as part of ongoing U.S.-Israel discussions over the presence and movement of Israeli forces in areas affected by the broader conflict.