Katz Rejects Any Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon, Syria or Gaza Amid U.S.-Iran Deal

Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a forceful statement on Monday after the United States signed an agreement with Iran, saying Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria or the Gaza Strip, even under American or wider international pressure. He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he are leading a clear policy under which the IDF will remain in those areas “without time limit” to protect border communities from jihadist groups and prevent a repeat of the October 7 attack.

Katz said the land would be cleared of local residents and that all terror infrastructure, both above and below ground, would be destroyed, including houses in border villages that had served as terror outposts. He described this territorial control as one of the main lessons Israel drew from the war. He also said Israel opposes withdrawal from Lebanon “despite all the pressures that exist and that will still come,” a reference to reported U.S. pressure tied to broader regional understandings involving Iran.

According to Katz, Netanyahu has already made Israel’s position clear to U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior American officials. Katz added that he personally discussed the issue with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

In a message aimed at both Tehran and Washington, Katz warned that if Iran chooses to retaliate against Israel over developments in Lebanon, “we will strike it with full force and make the power gap very clear.” He also criticized opposition figures who, he said, challenge this security concept and support an IDF withdrawal, urging them to state their position publicly so the public can judge between the competing views.