Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz rejected US President Donald Trump’s Wednesday claim that ‘Israel’ would withdraw from Lebanon, saying on Thursday that the occupation regime would remain in the so-called “security zones” for “as long as was needed.”
“We did not ask anyone’s permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon,” Katz stated.
He also stated that it was an Israeli “privilege and right to protect its people from Hezbollah,” and that Israeli forces forces would maintain a presence in southern Lebanon until the Lebanese resistance group was completely disarmed and the “threat had been fully removed.”
On Wednesday, Trump said that he thought ‘Israel’ would withdraw troops from southern Lebanon because it wanted to take that step, despite previous comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicating otherwise.
Trump told reporters at the NATO summit in Ankara that he had discussed a withdrawal with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Yeah, I think they’re going to. I think they want to,” Trump said. “So we have a deal with Israel and Lebanon. Yeah, they’ll leave. And I think it’s going to work out very well.”
"Do you think Israel should withdraw troops from southern Lebanon?"
— Mintel World (@mintelworld) July 8, 2026
Donald Trump: "Well, I talked to Bibi about that. Yeah, I think they're going to. I think they want to. I don't think it's a question of me, I think it's a question they want to. And they're getting along with… pic.twitter.com/Uqq78vpg7Y