{"id":516954,"date":"2026-06-29T17:57:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T17:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/516954\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T17:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T17:57:10","slug":"katz-israel-has-no-territorial-ambitions-in-lebanon-will-stay-until-hezbollah-disarmed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/516954\/","title":{"rendered":"Katz: Israel has ‘no territorial ambitions’ in Lebanon, will stay until Hezbollah disarmed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Monday that Israel has \u201cno territorial ambitions in Lebanon,\u201d but the IDF will not withdraw \u201ca millimeter\u201d until the Hezbollah terror group is disarmed.<\/p>\n

Katz\u2019s comments came on the same day that the US Central Command chief met with both Lebanon\u2019s president and its military chief in Lebanon, days after Jerusalem and Beirut signed a framework agreement<\/a> aimed at ending their conflict, a move that has been repeatedly criticized by Hezbollah and its allies.<\/p>\n

The deal commits Lebanon to restoring sovereignty over its territory through the \u201cverified disarmament of non-state armed groups and dismantlement of associated infrastructure,\u201d enabling a progressive Israeli withdrawal, according to the text released by the State Department.<\/p>\n

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that his country\u2019s army plans to deploy up to the border with Israel in its efforts to displace Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Israel again struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight, in what it said was a response to the terror group\u2019s attacks on its forces in the area. Separately an IDF soldier was seriously wounded in an explosion in the area on Monday, the military said.<\/p>\n

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Speaking to reporters on Monday, Katz said the military is unlikely to withdraw from additional areas of southern Lebanon beyond the two agreed-upon locations from which it will pull out<\/a> as part of a pilot program that will see the Lebanese army take over.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople should not hold their breath wondering where the next place will be from which Israel will withdraw in Lebanon, because it will not happen until Hezbollah is disarmed. We have no territorial ambitions in Lebanon, but until Hezbollah is disarmed, we will not withdraw a millimeter,\u201d Katz said.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tDefense Minister Israel Katz (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the graduation ceremony of an IDF officers\u2019 course in southern Israel, June 25, 2026. (Flash90)<\/p>\n

He said that principle was accepted by the US and anchored in the military annex to the framework agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon. Katz also noted that when he met US Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper last week, they agreed that \u201cthe IDF will not withdraw from the three security zones \u2014 in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katz said he also does not believe the Lebanese army will \u201csuddenly become lions charging at Hezbollah,\u201d and therefore the IDF\u2019s presence in Lebanon will be \u201clong term.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defense minister confirmed that Israel had recently tried to get the Lebanese army to enter the Ali Taher Ridge area, under which Hezbollah has a major tunnel system, and clear it of terror operatives. However, \u201cthe Lebanese army refused to do it,\u201d Katz said. Currently, the IDF remains stationed in the area, but it has not entered the underground passages where some 30 Hezbollah operatives are believed to be holed up.<\/p>\n

Briefing reporters, Katz claimed that had it not been for American pressure on Israel, the IDF would have caused Hezbollah\u2019s collapse in Lebanon. He said the IDF had planned a \u201cmassive\u201d aerial campaign that, he claimed, \u201cwould have dismantled Hezbollah,\u201d and that the terror group was \u201cbegging the Iranians to save it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defense minister blamed US President Donald Trump\u2019s linking of the US-Iran talks with Lebanon for preventing Israel from doing so. According to Katz, when Trump \u201clinked Iran and Lebanon,\u201d Israel had to stop \u201cbringing down buildings in Beirut,\u201d but could carry out \u201csurgical strikes\u201d on Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry about that linkage, but it was an American interest. They very much wanted to advance the possibility of negotiations with Iran,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cwhen you enter into a partnership, it has advantages, but it also comes with certain constraints.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others watch, seated from left, Israel\u2019s Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, counselor Dan Holler, and Lebanon\u2019s Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh, sign a framework agreement at the State Department, June 26, 2026, in Washington. (AP\/Kevin Wolf)<\/p>\n

Katz said he was not present for one call between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of the signing of the MOU between the US and Iran. \u201cI was not on the fifth call, and the president applied pressure that ultimately created the linkage between the arenas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is why we moved to plan B,\u201d the defense minister said, referring to the IDF\u2019s operations north of the Litani River and the expansion of its security zone in southern Lebanon in the past month, which he said was carried out with US approval.<\/p>\n

Regarding tensions with Iran, Katz said that if Iran attacks Israel with ballistic missiles in response to actions in Lebanon, the IDF will respond and is preparing to operate independently.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could happen even within two days,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have targets to strike in Iran, and the IDF is prepared and on alert, but we will not interfere with the US president\u2019s course of action vis-\u00e0-vis the Iranians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Katz also said the IDF still has \u201cmore tunnels to destroy and blow up,\u201d including a major underground Hezbollah system beneath the Beaufort Ridge, which he said will be destroyed with \u201c500 tons of explosives.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc \u05d4\u05d0\u05d5\u05d5\u05d9\u05e8 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e3 \u05d0\u05de\u05e9 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d5\u05e9 \u05de\u05e4\u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea \u05e9\u05dc \u05d0\u05e8\u05d2\u05d5\u05df \u05d4\u05d8\u05e8\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d6\u05d1\u05d0\u05dc\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d1\u05de\u05e8\u05d7\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05e0\u05d1\u05d8\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05d9\u05e4\u05d3\u05d5\u05df \u05e9\u05d1\u05d3\u05e8\u05d5\u05dd \u05dc\u05d1\u05e0\u05d5\u05df.<\/p>\n

\u05d4\u05ea\u05e7\u05d9\u05e4\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05d5\u05e6\u05e2\u05d5 \u05d1\u05ea\u05d2\u05d5\u05d1\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d4\u05de\u05e9\u05da \u05d4\u05e4\u05d2\u05d9\u05e2\u05d4 \u05d1\u05db\u05d5\u05d7\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e4\u05d5\u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05de\u05e8\u05d7\u05d1 \u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05d8\u05d7\u05d5\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e2\u05dc \u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/zkaY1vjPLN<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \u05e6\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d4\u05d2\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc (@idfonline) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The IDF said Monday that the Israeli Air Force struck three Hezbollah command centers in the Nabatieh and Mayfadoun areas in southern Lebanon overnight.\n<\/p>\n

The strikes were carried in response to \u201cthe continued attacks against our forces operating in the security zone by the Hezbollah terror organization,\u201d the IDF said.<\/p>\n

Separately, the IDF said that troops of the Multi-Domain unit destroyed a Hezbollah rocket launcher in southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n

The military also said Monday that an IDF reservist soldier was severely wounded by an explosion in southern Lebanon earlier that day, and taken to a hospital for treatment.\u00a0According to an IDF probe of the incident, the blast occurred at around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, during operations of the Commando Brigade in the village of Arnoun. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the military.<\/p>\n

Days after Israel and Lebanon signed the framework agreement in Washington, following several rounds of direct negotiations, US Central Command chief Adm. Bradley Cooper met in Lebanon on Monday with the country\u2019s military chief and president, who vowed to implement the terms of the deal and assert control over Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\tLebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets with Adm. Brad Cooper, the top US military commander in the Middle East, center, at the presidential place in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, June 29, 2026. (Lebanese Presidency press office via AP)<\/p>\n

Aoun told Cooper on Monday that he was committed to extending the state\u2019s control through its military up to the border with Israel.<\/p>\n

He reaffirmed to the CENTCOM chief \u201cthe Lebanese state\u2019s determination to extend its authority, through its armed forces, all the way to the southern border,\u201d the presidency said in a statement, adding that the pair \u201cdiscussed the preparations related to the start of implementing the framework agreement\u201d between Lebanon, Israel, and the US.<\/p>\n

A statement from CENTCOM said the leaders \u201cdiscussed the path forward\u201d in the wake of the deal, noting that Cooper met last week in Israel with \u201csenior civilian and military leaders\u201d \u2014 who were not named \u2014 and visited American troops deployed to the country.<\/p>\n

During an ongoing trip to the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, engaged senior civilian and military leaders in Israel and Lebanon. While in Lebanon, Cooper and his staff met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Armed Forces Commanding General Rodolphe Haykal.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/9KRSJyNJIR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Cooper also met on Monday with Lebanon military chief Gen. Rodolphe Haykal near Beirut for a discussion of \u201cthe latest developments in Lebanon and the region, the importance of ensuring the success of the mechanism for implementing the security annex to the framework agreement, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation in the future,\u201d according to the Lebanese Armed Forces.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cHaykal expressed his gratitude for the US support, stressing the need to continue cooperation between the two armies in a way that preserves Lebanon\u2019s security and stability,\u201d the LAF added.<\/p>\n

\t\"\"<\/a>
\n\t\tLebanese army chief Rodolphe Haykal (L) shakes hands with Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), during a meeting at the Lebanese Ministry of Defense in Yarze on June 29, 2026. (Lebanese Army Press Office \/ AFP)<\/p>\n

Hezbollah on Monday continued to blast the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement and said it reserved the right to self-defense and accused Israel of a \u201cblatant violation of the ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement, the Iran-backed terror group said that it \u201creiterates that what the enemy has done is a blatant violation of the ceasefire to which it has adhered until now, and that it is monitoring and tracking these violations, and reserves its right to defend its homeland and its people.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, Lebanese Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri said early Monday that the trilateral framework agreement between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States was unviable as it didn\u2019t guarantee Lebanon\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis agreement will not pass, and it will not be implemented in its current form,\u201d Berri said in a statement shared by his party the Amal movement, adding that it was \u201can agreement of \u2018dictates,\u2019 not an agreement that preserves Lebanon\u2019s rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

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