1- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel will not withdraw from southern Lebanon on Friday or in the foreseeable future.
2- He said Israeli forces will remain in the south until Hezbollah is disarmed and will retain full freedom of action inside Lebanon.
3- Smotrich acknowledged disagreements with the United States over Lebanon policy and said Israel must resist American pressure.
Smotrich said Israel has no plans to leave southern Lebanon following the signing of the US-Iran agreement.
He stated that Israeli troops would remain in the area for an extended period, arguing that a withdrawal cannot take place while Hezbollah remains armed.
He said Israeli forces would continue operating with what he described as “full freedom of movement” inside Lebanon.
Smotrich added that Israel would maintain its presence in the security zone it controls in southern Lebanon, extending to Beaufort Castle.
He acknowledged a dispute between Israel and the United States over how to handle the Lebanese file and said Israel should stand firm against US pressure.
His comments come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Israel would not withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon, expressing confidence that Washington would ultimately accept the position.
Why it matters?
The remarks highlight growing tensions between Israel and the United States over Lebanon and suggest that any Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon remains unlikely in the near term.
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