Israel's defense posture fractures as Katz defies Trump and IDF alerts escalate

Defense Minister Katz insists on staying in Lebanon; IDF raises readiness amid US-Iran strikes and internal complaints.

Israel's defense posture fractures as Katz defies Trump and IDF alerts escalate — Defense Minister Israel Katz stated today that Israel will not withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, directly contradicting US President Donald Trump, who said yesterday he thinks Israel will pull out.[^1] Katz's declaration came as the IDF sharply raised its readiness level and as the US struck over 170 Iranian military targets over the past two days.[^2][^3] The tension between Jerusalem and Washington is palpable: Dr. Eyal Hulata, former head of the National Security Council, told 103fm radio that it is 'very disturbing to understand what's happening behind the scenes between Israel and the US.'[^4] On the northern front, the IDF destroyed two large Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon and prevented several Israeli citizens from crossing into Syria overnight.[^5][^6] Meanwhile, the US has appealed to Israel not to intervene in the Iran conflict, but Israeli security services warn that a limited Iranian retaliatory missile strike could still affect Israel.[^2] About 20 American refueling planes remain at Ben-Gurion Airport, though satellite imagery shows the US removed 32 refueling aircraft from the airport out of roughly 60–72 that were previously there.[^7] On the home front, reservists at the Nahal Oz outpost near Gaza report critical shortages of personnel, food, and technical equipment.[^8] Commanders in the POW and missing unit filed a complaint against the IDF due to lack of mental health support.[^9] A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo today for ceasefire talks, demanding a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal as conditions for a second phase.[^10] The IDF also eliminated a senior Islamic Jihad production official in southern Gaza and a terrorist who kidnapped Israelis on October 7.[^11][^12] Violent crime surge: Indictments, sentences, and extortion across Israel — On Wednesday, a Haifa couple was sentenced to prison for robbing an 80-year-old woman they met in a bomb shelter, stealing her phone, house key, and NIS 100, then withdrawing NIS 5,000 from an ATM.[^1] Asil Nassar received 32 months and NIS 6,000 compensation; her then-partner Miar Heiv got 68 months