Israeli Defense Minister Thanks US Pentagon Chief Support For Buffer Zone Development In Lebanon And Syria

Israeli Defense Minister Katz when he met Israeli troops at the border. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

JAKARTA - Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz said he had spoken to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about military activity in the West Bank, thanking him for his support for Israel's efforts to create a safe buffer zone within Syria and Lebanon.

"The Minister of Defense (Israel) briefed the Minister of Defense (US) on IDF (Israeli military) operations in JAPAN and Samaria (a Bible term for the West Bank) to counter terror in refugee camps, and emphasized the importance of the security zones in Lebanon and Syria, as well as thanked him for his support", read a statement from the Office of Defense Minister Katz, reported The Times of Israel March 4.

Defense Minister Katz also thanked the Pentagon Chief for accelerating arms shipments to Israel by the Washington administration and for Trump's "commitment (President) to the strong bilateral alliance," the statement said.

Defense Minister Katz's office said the two defense chiefs agreed Iran remained a major threat in the region, seeking to maintain "close cooperation between Israel and the US to prevent it (Iran) from acquiring nuclear weapons."

Katz also alluded to Gaza, including Israel's decision to approve Washington's proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, instead of continuing the planned military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He also "enforced the need to repatriate all hostages and eliminate Hamas," the statement said.

Separately, the Pentagon in a statement on the phone talks said Defense Minister Hegseth "reaffirmed the United States remains 100 percent committed to Israel's security and stressed the inseparable ties between the United States and Israel."