Hours after the United States and Iran announced an agreement aimed at ending the regional conflict, including hostilities involving Lebanon, Israel indicated it would maintain military deployments in key areas of the region.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said troops would remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip for an unlimited period.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I are pursuing a clear policy under which the IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for an unlimited period of time, in order to protect the border and Israeli communities from there against jihadist elements,” Katz said in a statement.
He also warned Iran against any retaliatory action, saying that if Tehran attacked Israel in response to its campaign in Lebanon, Israel would respond with “full force”.
The remarks suggest that despite progress towards a broader regional settlement, significant security and military issues remain unresolved.