Israel says won't withdraw troops from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza

Published June 15, 2026 Updated June 15, 2026 01:24pm

According to AFP, Israel’s defence minister says that Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza indefinitely, hours after the United States and Iran agreed to end the war, including in Lebanon.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are pursuing a clear policy under which the IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for an unlimited period of time, in order to protect the border and Israeli communities from there against jihadist elements,” Israel Katz said in a statement.

Katz also warned Iran that if it attacked Israel in response to its campaign in Lebanon, Israel would retaliate with “full force”.

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