Israel Rejects Trump's Claims of Troop Withdrawal from Lebanon

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on July 9, 2026, that Israeli forces will remain in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. His statement directly contradicted assertions made by U.S. President Donald Trump during a NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump claimed he believed Israeli troops would withdraw based on a deal between Israel and Lebanon.

Katz asserted that Israel did not seek and does not require permission from any foreign party to enter or remain in Lebanon, framing the military presence as a duty to protect citizens in the Galilee region. The Israel Defense Forces have established a security zone extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the Beaufort Ridge and Mount Hermon, clearing the area of residents and militant infrastructure to prevent raids.

This diplomatic tension follows a June 26 U.S.-mediated security agreement. Despite a two-week-old truce, hostilities continue, with both sides alleging ceasefire violations. On July 8, the Israeli military captured a member of Hezbollah's Radwan Force during a clash in the Bint Jbeil area. Lebanese authorities report that Israeli attacks have killed approximately 4,300 people since March 2, while the Israeli military reports 38 soldiers and one civilian contractor killed in southern Lebanon during the same period.