Israel says it will stay in Lebanon security zone until Hezbollah disarmed

Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz announced that Israel will maintain a security strip in southern Lebanon and will not withdraw until Hezbollah’s weapons are removed throughout the country. The statement followed the signing of a US‑brokered framework agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv, which Katz described as a historic political and security achievement. The agreement does not set a timetable for Israeli pull‑out but ties any withdrawal to the complete disarmament of Hezbollah and the assumption of full security responsibility by the Lebanese army.

Katz warned that any Iranian attempt to block the deal would meet a “strong response,” and cited Israel’s ongoing “long‑term presence” in the zone, including the strategic Shaqif area. Lebanon’s officials have hailed the pact as a first step toward restoring sovereignty, while Hezbollah dismissed it as non‑existent and a violation of red lines. The deal comes amid a broader conflict that began on 2 March 2026, which the Lebanese health ministry says has caused over 4,000 deaths, 12,000 injuries, and displaced more than one million people.