Israel has rejected remarks by President Donald Trump suggesting that Israeli forces could soon withdraw from southern Lebanon, with Israeli officials insisting that any military pullback will depend on security conditions along the border.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has reaffirmed that Israel intends to maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon, dismissing suggestions that the country is preparing to withdraw its forces in the near future.
In a statement released Thursday, Katz said decisions regarding Israel’s military operations are based on the country’s security needs and are not subject to outside approval. He emphasized that Israel’s primary objective remains protecting communities in northern Israel from potential cross-border threats.
According to the defense minister, Israeli forces will continue operating in the designated security zone until the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah is disarmed and Israeli authorities determine that the threat to northern communities has been removed.
His remarks came one day after President Donald Trump, speaking during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, told reporters that he believed Israel was prepared to leave southern Lebanon following recent discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Trump also suggested that improving relations between Israel and Lebanon could create conditions for further agreements between the two countries.
However, neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor other senior Israeli officials have publicly announced plans for an immediate withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Israeli leaders have consistently maintained that any future redeployment of forces will depend on long-term security guarantees and measures that prevent armed groups from reestablishing military positions near Israel’s northern border.
The military presence has remained a central issue since a ceasefire reduced hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah after months of cross-border fighting.
Diplomatic efforts led by the United States have continued in recent months, with discussions involving Israeli and Lebanese officials focusing on border security, implementation of the ceasefire agreement, and broader efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region.
Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that stronger measures are needed to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military capabilities, while Lebanese authorities continue facing international pressure to strengthen state control over all armed groups operating within the country.
The question of Israel’s military deployment in southern Lebanon remains one of the key issues affecting regional stability, with international mediators continuing to encourage dialogue aimed at preventing a renewed escalation along the Israel-Lebanon border.
While President Trump has expressed optimism about future diplomatic progress, Israel’s latest statements indicate that security considerations will remain the determining factor in any decision regarding the future of its military presence in southern Lebanon.
Swati Montel, Reporting for SNEWS TV.
