Katz Claims No US Demand for Israel to Withdraw from Lebanon
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said that the United States has not demanded Israel withdraw its troops from Lebanon. The cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon is reportedly included in the conditions proposed by Iran to secure a ceasefire agreement with the US.
“We have announced that we will not withdraw under any circumstances and, to date – and this is a diplomatic achievement – there has been no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon,” Katz said in an interview in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (24/6/2026), as quoted by Al Arabiya.
When asked whether Israel would comply if the US requested its forces to leave Lebanon, Katz said he had conveyed to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that Israeli soldiers are in Lebanon to protect Israeli citizens living in the northern region. According to Katz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the same point to US President Donald Trump.
Israel and Lebanon are currently engaged in negotiations to end the conflict in the country. The talks between the two nations are taking place in Washington and are mediated by the US.
As the fifth round of Israel-Lebanon talks commenced in Washington on Tuesday (23/6/2026), Lebanese President Joseph Aoun issued a statement rejecting Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon. Aoun also rejected foreign intervention in his country’s affairs. His comments were read as an implicit message to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government has repeatedly stated that peace in Lebanon is a fundamental pillar for reaching a definitive agreement with Washington. If that materialises, the ceasefire deal could be jeopardised.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday (20/6/2026), following an Israeli attack on Lebanon. Two days earlier, on Thursday (18/6/2026), Iran announced it had signed an agreement with the US to end the conflict between them that began in late February 2026. The agreement included a clause requiring a ceasefire that encompasses the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.
Israel began bombarding Lebanon on 2 March 2026. The aggression commenced after Hezbollah, in support of Iran and in response to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, fired rockets into Israeli territory following a US-Israeli attack on Tehran on 28 February 2026. Since then, Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in confrontation. According to Lebanese authorities, the Israeli aggression has killed more than 4,100 people in the country. Israel is currently establishing a 10-kilometre security zone in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel.