Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Saturday, 27 June that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have directed the Israeli military to prepare for an extended, open-ended presence in the 'security zone' in southern Lebanon — defying international calls for a full withdrawal and complicating a freshly signed US-brokered framework agreement. The declaration signals that Israel has no intention of pulling back its forces until Hezbollah is fully disarmed across all of Lebanon.

What Katz Said

In a video statement released by his office, Katz said the army 'will continue to station forces in the security zone in southern Lebanon, including the Shqeif area, and will not withdraw before Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon.'

He underscored what he called an 'important principle' of the agreement: 'There will be no redeployment by Israel in southern Lebanon, no withdrawal, as long as the terrorist organisation Hezbollah is not disarmed throughout Lebanon.' Earlier this week, both Netanyahu and Katz had addressed a graduation ceremony for combat officers, where they ruled out any full Israeli withdrawal, with Katz stating the military would remain in security zones 'without any time limit.'

The Security Zone and Shqeif

The security zone is a buffer strip extending approximately 10 kilometres (six miles) inside Lebanese territory along the border. It was established during the latest war with Hezbollah in 2024 and 2025 and has been expanded following intensified Israeli operations since 2 March.

The Shqeif area is among southern Lebanon's most strategically significant locations, positioned on elevated terrain near a bend in the Litani River. It overlooks large swathes of southern Lebanon and the Galilee region in northern Israel, making it a critical vantage point for Israeli military planners.

The US-Brokered Framework Agreement

Katz's announcement came just one day after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-sponsored framework agreement stipulating a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, beginning with two unnamed pilot areas. Notably, the agreement sets no fixed timetable for withdrawal and conditions any pullback on the Lebanese army assuming full security control over evacuated areas and the disarmament of all non-state armed groups — specifically referencing Hezbollah.

This is the outcome of the fourth round of US-mediated talks, which produced a conditional ceasefire framework tied to Hezbollah halting attacks and withdrawing operatives from areas south of the Litani River. The absence of a withdrawal deadline gives Israel considerable leverage to prolong its presence indefinitely under the agreement's own terms.

Warning to Iran

Katz also issued a direct warning to Iran, stating: 'If Iran attempts to attack Israel to prevent implementation of the agreement between Israel and Lebanon, we will act against it with great force and demonstrate the gap in capabilities between us.' The threat echoes recent statements from Israeli leadership, with Netanyahu saying Israel would remain in southern Lebanon 'as long as necessary' to protect its northern border communities.

Diplomatic Outlook

Israel's declared position puts it on a collision course with broader regional diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. Questions over Israeli troop deployments, Hezbollah's future role, and durable security arrangements remain unresolved. With no timeline for withdrawal and a maximalist disarmament condition attached, analysts warn the security zone could become a permanent fixture — much as it was during Israel's earlier occupation of southern Lebanon from 1985 to 2000. The coming weeks will test whether US mediators can bridge the gap between Israel's stated conditions and Lebanon's sovereignty concerns.