Israel’s defense minister on Thursday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Israeli troops will withdraw from southern Lebanon, reasserting that the military will remain in the territory as long as necessary to counter Hezbollah—a statement that underscores deepening tensions between Jerusalem and Washington even as the U.S. and Iran trade escalating strikes in the Gulf.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said on July 9 that Israel “did not ask anyone’s permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon,” directly contradicting Trump’s assertion made the previous day at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
On Wednesday, Trump told reporters he believed Israel wanted to withdraw and that “we have a deal with Israel and Lebanon.” “Yeah, they’ll leave. And I think it’s going to work out very well,” Trump said. Katz responded by stating that Israeli forces would “continue to remain in the security zone in Lebanon and operate from it for as long as necessary, until Hezbollah is disarmed.”
The public dispute over Israel’s Lebanon presence reflects a broader fracture in the U.S.-led regional strategy. On the same day Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran “over,” the U.S. military struck more than 80 targets across Iran, according to U.S. Central Command, in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran retaliated with strikes of its own, marking the second consecutive day of tit-for-tat military action.
Netanyahu has consistently resisted American pressure to withdraw Israeli forces from Lebanese territory occupied since March 2026. In June, Netanyahu visited the occupied areas and told soldiers Israel would not leave as long as Hezbollah posed a threat. On June 15, he told Trump directly that Israel would not withdraw and did not consider itself bound by Lebanon provisions in the U.S.-Iran agreement. Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people and injured over 12,000 since March, according to official figures.
The Israeli-Lebanese security framework, signed on June 26 and mediated by the United States, calls for a phased Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, beginning with two unspecified pilot zones. Yet Israel has continued military operations and expanded its presence in southern Lebanon, advancing more than 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory during recent operations. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced Tuesday that a new round of talks between the two sides will be held in Rome on July 14-15, suggesting negotiations remain in flux despite the public rejections.
Trump’s declaration that the Iran ceasefire is “over” follows weeks of escalating rhetoric and military action. A memorandum of understanding signed in June between the U.S. and Iran has already been strained by mutual accusations of violations. The latest round of strikes came after Iran attacked three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz on July 6-7, prompting the U.S. response. Both sides have accused each other of breaking the agreement, and Trump’s statement signals the administration’s readiness to abandon the framework entirely. Trump said he did not want to “deal with” Iran anymore, calling Iranian leaders “scum.”
Sources
- The Jerusalem Post — Defense Minister Katz’s rejection of Trump’s withdrawal claim and statement on July 9
- Anadolu Agency — Katz’s full remarks rejecting Trump’s remarks and confirming Israeli forces will remain until Hezbollah is disarmed
- Reuters — Trump’s statement at NATO summit in Ankara on July 8 that he believes Israel will withdraw from Lebanon
- NPR — Trump’s declaration that the Iran ceasefire is “over” at NATO summit on July 8
- Sky News — U.S. strikes on Iran for second night, with Iran targeting U.S. bases in response
- Al Jazeera — Context on U.S.-Iran strikes escalation and memorandum of understanding violations
