Indefinite Regional Presence
Israel Declares Indefinite Military Presence in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for Security
Key Points
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that if Iran attacks Israel because of its actions in Lebanon or for any other reason, 'we will strike Iran with full force, in a way that clearly demonstrates the gap in power between us.'
During a graduation ceremony for combat officers in southern Israel, Netanyahu and Katz said the Israeli military would remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza 'without any time limit.'
The remarks come amid the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, which calls for the immediate and permanent end of military operations in Lebanon and affirms Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, a point that contrasts with Israel's stance.
Katz stated that Israel would not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if requested by the Trump administration, signaling willingness to resist U.S. pressure.
Certain outlets frame the stance in harsher terms, with PressTV describing the actions as an 'illegal military occupation' and alleging Katz conveyed the position to U.S. war secretary Pete Hegseth, adding a narrative of expansionism and ongoing airstrikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on June 25 that Israeli forces will stay in security zones across southern Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza "without any time limit." The announcement, made at a military graduation ceremony in southern Israel, marks Israel's most explicit defiance yet of international pressure to withdraw — including from its closest ally, the United States. Middle East Eye
The declaration comes just eight days after the signing of the "Islamabad Memorandum," a U.S.-Iran deal that calls for the immediate and permanent end of military operations in Lebanon. Israel has seized over 1,000 square kilometers of territory across the three fronts since 2023, according to AP News, displacing more than 3 million people.
Israel Defies U.S.-Iran Peace Deal on Lebanon
On June 17, the United States and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum in France. The deal calls for a full ceasefire in Lebanon and affirms Lebanon's sovereignty. Israel was not a party to the agreement — and is now openly rejecting it. Katz told U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on June 24 that Israel will not leave southern Lebanon, even if Washington asks. The New Region reported Katz called the presence a "supreme security interest."
The pushback from Washington is growing. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who led the negotiations with Iran, warned Israeli officials to stop attacking the deal. Vance said Israel could soon find itself "on their own," according to Atlantic Council. Despite that warning, Israeli forces continued clearing operations and house demolitions in the Lebanese village of Markaba as recently as June 26, Middle East Eye reported.
Katz Warns Iran: 'We Will Strike With Full Force'
Katz paired the withdrawal refusal with a direct warning to Tehran. "If Iran attacks Israel because of our actions in Lebanon... we will strike Iran with full force, in a way that clearly demonstrates the gap in power between us," he said, according to Caliber.Az. Iran's Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani fired back the same day, warning Israel that if it does not "withdraw from Lebanon today of your own free will, tomorrow you will be forced to flee in shame," per Palestine Chronicle.
Analysts say Katz's warning creates a dangerous tripwire. Any Iranian move to enforce the Islamabad Memorandum through its proxies could trigger a direct Israeli strike on Iranian soil. That would effectively collapse the peace deal that the Trump administration spent months negotiating. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir acknowledged the military strain, saying the army needs "every male and female combat soldier" to hold three fronts at once, according to Times of Israel.
A Three-Front Occupation by the Numbers
The scale of Israel's footprint is significant. Israeli forces pushed 10 kilometers into Lebanon in a major offensive that began March 2, 2026, according to Anadolu Agency. Since then, Israeli operations in Lebanon have killed 4,200 people and injured 12,000. In Gaza, the death toll since October 2023 has passed 73,000. The IDF now controls more than 50% of the Gaza Strip, Middle East Monitor reported.
In Syria, Israel declared the 1974 disengagement agreement void after the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024 and moved into the Syrian buffer zone. Katz said the Lebanon security zone will have "neither civilians nor terrorists," suggesting that the 200,000-plus displaced Lebanese residents may not be allowed to return anytime soon, according to Haaretz.
Legal Challenges and a Divided Israeli Public
International legal experts are raising alarms. Analysts at Chatham House argue the indefinite presence violates the international prohibition on the use of force. Critics say clearing villages of residents and demolishing infrastructure goes beyond military necessity and amounts to "de facto annexation." The Muslim Network described the zones as territory held in violation of international law, echoing language used by PressTV, which calls the presence an "illegal military occupation."
Even inside Israel, the policy is not universally popular. During the June 25 graduation ceremony where Netanyahu and Katz made their announcement, audience members heckled the prime minister, shouting "Go home," according to Jerusalem Post. The moment exposed a domestic divide: many Israelis support the security zones as essential, while others fear a "forever war" with no clear exit strategy.
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