Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel will keep its troops in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria and will not withdraw them, according to reporting from multiple outlets. Katz frames the position as categorical, stating Israel will “under no circumstances” pull back forces.
The comments come about two months after Israel and Lebanon reach a deal that provides for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. While one outlet highlights the timing relative to that Lebanon agreement, the other focuses on the broader pledge covering Gaza and Syria as well as Lebanon. The reports describe the same core message—no withdrawal—though they differ in emphasis: one connects the statement to the existing Lebanon framework, while the other presents it as part of a wider stance across multiple fronts.
