Katz Answers Trump: Israel Needs No Permission to Stay in Lebanon

Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday morning that Israel did not ask anyone for permission to enter Lebanon and does not need permission to remain, rebuffing President Donald Trump's assertion in Ankara alongside Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that Israeli forces would soon withdraw. Katz said protecting the residents of the Galilee and Israeli citizens against Hezbollah is Israel's right and duty and that the IDF will remain in the security zone until the jihadist organization is disarmed across Lebanon. He described the zone as stretching from the Mediterranean Sea westward through the Beaufort area to the Mount Hermon approaches, cleared of residents and terror infrastructure above and below ground. Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backs the same policy and any pullout is conditioned on the June 26 framework requirement that Hezbollah lay down its arms.