The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declares the Israel Defense Forces will remain indefinitely in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip to protect Israeli communities from jihadist threats.Katz delivers the declaration during a military ceremony honoring soldiers killed in the 2006 Lebanon war and says Israel will not withdraw from those zones while threats persist.US and Iranian delegations are meeting in Qatar to finalize a US‑negotiated framework that allows Israel to occupy southern Lebanon until Hezbollah disarms, a condition Hezbollah rejects.Israel has continued strikes on
Hezbollah targets, including near Beirut, and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered expansion of Israeli control over roughly 70% of the Gaza Strip after
Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack; Katz warns of full‑force retaliation against
Iran if it responds.