### [2026-06-24](/feed/2026/06/24/index.md)

##### Middle Eastern crisis
# Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says his forces will not withdraw from occupied southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes. 




### Sources:

1. [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/6/24/iran-war-live-trump-tehran-at-odds-over-nuclear-inspections-hormuz)

### Changes:

1. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes.  _2026-06-25 09:46:16 (First version)_
2. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces will not withdraw from illegally-occupied southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes.  _2026-06-25 11:46:15 (Update)_
3. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces will not withdraw from occupied southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes.  _2026-06-26 03:46:28 (Update)_
3. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz says his forces will not withdraw from occupied southern Lebanon even if "the United States demands it", adding that "200,000 residents will not return" to their homes.  _(Current version)_

### Related:

1. [Hezbollah states that it received assurances from Iran that the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied southern Lebanon will be a demand in the next phase of negotiations with the United States, before any deal about Iran's nuclear program. ](/feed/2026/06/16/hezbollah-states-that-it-received-assurances-from-iran-that-the-withdrawal-of-israeli-troops-from-occupied-southern-leba.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, United States, southern Lebanon_
2. [Both Hamas and Israeli defense minister Israel Katz confirm that Al-Qassam Brigades commander and leader in the Gaza Strip Mohammed Odeh was killed by an Israeli airstrike on May 26 near Gaza City along with his wife and three children. ](/feed/2026/05/27/both-hamas-and-israeli-defense-minister-israel-katz-confirm-that-al-qassam-brigades-commander-and-leader-in-the-gaza-str.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis, the military_
3. [United States ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says that Israel has deployed Iron Dome air defense systems and military personnel to the United Arab Emirates amid the Iranian strikes. ](/feed/2026/05/12/united-states-ambassador-to-israel-mike-huckabee-says-that-israel-has-deployed-iron-dome-air-defense-systems-and-militar.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, United States, the military_
4. [An Israeli security source says that Israel is not conducting airstrikes in Iran following reports of explosions over Tehran, while defense minister Israel Katz states that the country is prepared to resume military action pending approval from the U.S. ](/feed/2026/04/23/an-israeli-security-source-says-that-israel-is-not-conducting-airstrikes-in-iran-following-reports-of-explosions-over-te.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis, the military_
5. [The Israeli military launches airstrikes in southern Lebanon against individuals that it accused of posing a threat to northern Israel or to Israeli troops. ](/feed/2026/04/20/the-israeli-military-launches-airstrikes-in-southern-lebanon-against-individuals-that-it-accused-of-posing-a-threat-to-n.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon, the military_
6. [Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says that the military will hold all of its positions in southern Lebanon, and that disarming Hezbollah remains its main objective. ](/feed/2026/04/17/israeli-defense-minister-israel-katz-says-that-the-military-will-hold-all-of-its-positions-in-southern-lebanon-and-that.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon, the military_
7. [Israeli defense minister Israel Katz states that the military is attacking Iran's most important petrochemical plant in Assaluyeh, causing severe damage. ](/feed/2026/04/6/israeli-defense-minister-israel-katz-states-that-the-military-is-attacking-iran-s-most-important-petrochemical-plant-in.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis, the military_
8. [The Lebanese health ministry reports that Israeli airstrikes on multiple locations in southern Lebanon killed eight people, including six in Kherbet Selem and two in Kfar Reman. ](/feed/2026/03/7/the-lebanese-health-ministry-reports-that-israeli-airstrikes-on-multiple-locations-in-southern-lebanon-killed-eight-peop.md) _Context: Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon, the military_
9. [The Israeli Air Force launches a bombing campaign against Iran targeting nuclear facilities with the main goal of the operation being to destroy Iran's nuclear program. A special state of emergency is declared in Israel by Defence Minister Israel Katz and Israeli airspace is closed to all flights. Iranian state television reports that 60 people were killed in the attacks, while Israel claims only three people died and dozens got injured. ](/feed/2025/06/13/the-israeli-air-force-launches-a-bombing-campaign-against-iran-targeting-nuclear-facilities-with-the-main-goal-of-the-op.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis_
10. [Israeli Defense Minster Israel Katz orders the Israel Defense Forces to occupy new areas of the Gaza Strip, and threatens to annex sections of Gaza if Hamas refuses to release all its remaining Israeli hostages. ](/feed/2025/03/21/israeli-defense-minster-israel-katz-orders-the-israel-defense-forces-to-occupy-new-areas-of-the-gaza-strip-and-threaten.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Israeli defence minister, Middle Eastern crisis, the military_