Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated at a memorial event that Israeli military forces would continue operating in designated “security zones” across Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza without a defined end date, emphasizing the need to safeguard residents from extremist threats.
During the ceremony, Katz affirmed that the Israeli army would remain in these areas “until further notice,” citing ongoing security concerns related to jihadist elements. He explicitly rejected any possibility of withdrawal.
The minister also issued a firm warning to Iran, indicating that Tehran would face severe consequences if it launched attacks against Israeli military positions in Lebanon.
These statements followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier declaration that Israeli troops would stay in Lebanon as long as the Iran-backed Hezbollah posed a threat to northern Israel’s residents.
The situation escalated on 2 March when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks in response to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei’s assassination during a joint US-Israeli operation on 28 February. Israel retaliated with airstrikes and a ground operation in southern Lebanon, resulting in approximately 4,300 casualties, per Lebanese reports.
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