Netanyahu and Katz hail Israel-Lebanon deal as 'historic' blow to Iran and Hezbollah
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday cheered a US-brokered framework agreement with Lebanon, framing it as a strategic blow to Iran and Hezbollah and insisting Israeli forces will remain in a southern security zone until Hezbollah disarms.
Israeli leaders on Saturday hailed the framework agreement reached with Lebanon a day earlier as a historic achievement and a strategic blow to Iran and Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz both held press conferences, detailing the terms as they see them and insisting the IDF will maintain a security zone in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is disarmed.
- Framework agreement signed between Israel, Lebanon, and the US
- Netanyahu and Katz hold press conferences hailing the deal
Netanyahu: "Iran has no role here"
Netanyahu described the deal as an "historic agreement for the state of Israel" resulting from direct negotiations with Lebanon. He claimed the agreement sends a message that Iran has no status or role in Lebanon.
Netanyahu also said the partnership deliversWe, along with Lebanon and the US, are essentially telling Iran: 'This doesn't concern you. You have no status here... no role here.'
He acknowledged Israel will pull back from two small areas as a pilot programme, showing on a map that one lies outside the security zone and the other on its edge where the IDF no longer needs to hold.a blow we landed on Iran and Hezbollah.
No full withdrawal from Lebanon
Katz made clear the IDF will not fully pull out of Lebanon, contrary to earlier promises, and will retain the self-declared security zone, including the Beaufort Castle ridge. He said that no withdrawal will occur until Hezbollah is disarmed across all of Lebanon.
Katz added he had ordered the army to prepare for a prolonged stay in the zone.The important principle established in the agreement is that there will be absolutely no withdrawal, as long as the terrorist organisation Hezbollah has not been disarmed in the whole of Lebanon.
Strategic blow and warning to Iran
Katz called the deal a strategic blow to the Iranian axis, noting that Iran tried to force Israel out of Lebanon through threats and pressure on the United States but failed. He warned Tehran that any attempt to attack Israel in order to block the agreement would be met with great force.
Katz and Netanyahu have jointly instructed the IDF to make the necessary preparations for an extended presence.If Iran tries to attack Israel to prevent the implementation of the agreement, we will act against it with great power.
