Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed on Wednesday that Israeli forces will continue their presence in southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza, stressing ongoing security operations in these regions.

During a visit to troops in southern Lebanon, Katz emphasized that Israel will not withdraw from the so-called "security zone"—a strip extending approximately 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory. This stance persists despite a US-backed framework agreement reached nearly two months ago between Israel and Lebanon, which aims to disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia and gradually replace Israeli forces with the Lebanese army in designated pilot zones.

"As the prime minister and I have clearly stated, we are not withdrawing from this security zone," Katz declared, highlighting the military's commitment to protecting northern Israeli communities and its personnel. He added that Israeli forces are actively dismantling underground infrastructure and demolishing houses in southern Lebanon as part of their operations.

The conflict in the region intensified earlier this year when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes, prompting Israeli airstrikes and a ground offensive in southern Lebanon.

In Syria, Israel has conducted repeated incursions and airstrikes targeting the south, aiming to establish a demilitarised buffer zone following the regime change efforts against Bashar al-Assad's government.

Regarding Gaza, Katz underscored that Israeli troops currently occupy over 60 percent of the territory and reiterated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of a US-led withdrawal plan. Netanyahu insists that any Israeli pullout hinges on the full disarmament of Hamas and continued efforts to neutralize threats against Israeli forces and citizens.

Upcoming Diplomatic Talks

The United States has scheduled further negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in early September in Rome, aiming to advance the framework agreement and address ongoing security concerns.