Israel’s defence minister has said that Israeli forces will remain in self-proclaimed “security zones” established in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, without any timeline for withdrawal, AFP reports.

“We will not withdraw from the security zones,” Katz said at a function held in honour of Israeli soldiers killed during the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Katz also reiterated an earlier warning to Iran, saying the country would be struck with “full force” if it attacked Israel over its operations in Lebanon.