Israel tells US it will continue Lebanon, Syria, Gaza occupation | Daily Sabah

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz informed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday that Israel intends to maintain its military presence in "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. Katz stated, "We have never asked the United States to act in our place along our borders." This declaration follows reports that U.S. President Donald Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon, with Trump reportedly saying, "They don't want you there. You should redeploy." Israel has maintained a presence in a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights since December 2024 and has conducted incursions and bombings in Syria. In Lebanon, Israeli forces occupy a roughly 10-kilometer "security zone," while in Gaza, the Israeli military controls 60% of the territory and its entire perimeter.