Israel rejects Trump claim of Lebanon withdrawal, vows to stay as long as needed

Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday directly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Israel would withdraw troops from Lebanon. Katz declared that Israel does not require permission to remain in the country and will stay in the security zones for as long as necessary.

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We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon.

"We did not ask anyone's permission to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to stay in Lebanon," Katz stated. He emphasized that protecting Israeli citizens from Hezbollah is a "privilege and right." IDF forces will maintain their presence in southern Lebanon until the militant group is fully disarmed and the threat is eliminated.

Trump had claimed on Wednesday that he believed Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon, stating he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Yeah, I think they're going to. I think they want to," Trump told reporters. "So we have a deal with Israel and Lebanon. Yeah, they'll leave. And I think it's going to work out very well."

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it was Israel's "privilege and right" to protect its people from Hezbollah, and that IDF forces would maintain a presence in southern Lebanon until the terror group was completely disarmed and the threat had been fully removed.

However, Katz's firm stance indicates a divergence from Trump's interpretation of the situation on the ground.

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Yeah, I think they're going to. I think they want to. So we have a deal with Israel and Lebanon. Yeah, they'll leave. And I think it's going to work out very well.