After the 'Boom Boom' and armor videos: Israel Katz returns to work

Defense Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon and made clear that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. He said the IDF is preparing for a long-term presence and stressed the importance of the area for protecting northern communities. The visit comes amid American pressure to advance withdrawals and arrangements.

Defense Minister Israel Katz arrived in southern Lebanon and made clear that Israel will not withdraw from security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. In his remarks, quoted in the article, Katz said the IDF is preparing for a long-term presence in the area, and that "under no circumstances will we withdraw." He emphasized the importance of the security zone in protecting northern communities and noted that the IDF has destroyed tunnels and defeated Hezbollah. Katz also referred to the Beaufort fortress as a symbol of policy, saying, "We are up, they are down, the residents are protected, the IDF is inside, 200,000 residents are outside." The visit comes amid American pressure to advance withdrawals and arrangements in various arenas, but Katz stressed Israel's adherence to its policy.