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

##### Middle Eastern crisis
# 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. 




### 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)_
2. 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.  _(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, U.S., 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, Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis_
3. [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, Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis_
4. [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, Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon_
5. [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, Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis_
6. [Israeli defense minister Israel Katz states that the military will control a "security zone" up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon until "the threat of Hezbollah" is removed, while also suggesting that Israel will remain in control of the area after the conflict is resolved. ](/feed/2026/03/24/israeli-defense-minister-israel-katz-states-that-the-military-will-control-a-security-zone-up-to-the-litani-river-in-s.md) _Context: Israel Katz, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon_
7. [The Israeli military destroys the largest bridge crossing the Litani River in southern Lebanon. ](/feed/2026/03/22/the-israeli-military-destroys-the-largest-bridge-crossing-the-litani-river-in-southern-lebanon.md) _Context: Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon_
8. [The Israeli military's 91st Division launches a ground operation against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, expanding a buffer zone along the border. ](/feed/2026/03/16/the-israeli-military-s-91st-division-launches-a-ground-operation-against-hezbollah-in-southern-lebanon-expanding-a-buff.md) _Context: Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon_
9. [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: Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis, southern Lebanon_
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, Israeli military, Middle Eastern crisis_