Israel Vows to Maintain Troops in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza Security Zones
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told his US counterpart Pete Hegseth early Thursday that Israel is determined to keep its forces in 'security zones' it has established inside Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from Katz's office.
The statement said Katz emphasised 'Israel's determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon in order to protect Israel's borders and the communities near the border from the threats posed by jihadist forces.' Katz added, 'We have never asked the United States to act in our place along our borders.'
The remarks come days after US President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon, according to US news outlet Axios. Citing a US official, Axios reported that Trump told Netanyahu the Israeli deployment was fuelling tensions in Syria. 'They don't want you there. You should redeploy,' Trump said, according to the report.
After the overthrow of Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, Israel sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone that separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the Golan Heights. Israel has also conducted repeated incursions into Syrian territory and carried out bombings, while stating it wants a demilitarised zone in southern Syria.
In Lebanon, Israeli forces remain deployed in what the military describes as a security zone extending roughly 10 kilometres into Lebanese territory. Lebanon and Israel, which have no formal relations, are engaged in US-brokered talks to end hostilities after the militant group Hezbollah drew Lebanon into the broader Middle East conflict by attacking Israel in March. The fifth round of talks concluded in Rome on Wednesday. The negotiations aim to have Israeli forces steadily withdraw from Lebanon, starting with two 'pilot zones' located outside the security zone Israel has established in the south.
In Gaza, Israel's military controls 60% of the territory and maintains a presence along the entire perimeter bordering Israel and Egypt.
