Israeli Defense Minister Katz: We Will Not Withdraw from Southern Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the areas it controls in Lebanon and Syria. Katz emphasized the Israeli army's determination to maintain its military presence in southern Lebanon, despite potential requests from the US.The Israeli army's presence in the region has been heavily criticized by the Lebanese government. The Lebanese government has announced that hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced due to Israeli attacks and occupation. Katz defended Israel's security approach, stating that the army will remain in southern Lebanon.Israel's military presence in Lebanon has long been a source of tension in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, among other Israeli officials, has previously stated that they will not withdraw from the areas in Lebanon.The US-Iran negotiations, which emphasized a ceasefire in Lebanon, have caused tension between Washington and Tel Aviv. It has been claimed that the proposed ceasefire monitoring mechanism would include Iranian representatives.