Israel Will Maintain Its Presence in Southern Lebanon Despite the Iran-US Deal

Israeli Defense Minister Katz during a visit to Israeli forces. (Ariel Hermoni/Israeli Defense Ministry)

JAKARTA - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that the Israeli army would remain in the territories it occupied in southern Lebanon as well as in Syria and Gaza despite a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

"Israel is opposed to the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon "regardless of all current and future pressures," it said in a statement, Anadolu (15/6) reported.

Further, Defense Minister Katz said that the Israeli-occupied areas in southern Lebanon would be "cleared" of local residents.

He also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had explained this position to US President Donald Trump and other senior American officials.

"I also clearly conveyed this to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth," claimed Katz.

Defense Minister Katz warned that Israel would attack Iran "with all our might" if Tehran launched an attack on Israel due to developments in Lebanon.

As previously reported, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday, "The Peace Deal between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been reached."

"Both sides have declared an immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon," Prime Minister Sharif said in a social media post on Sunday night, quoted by CNN.

"The official signing ceremony will be held on Friday, June 19 in Switzerland," added the Prime Minister of Pakistan, while thanking Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for their assistance in the "mediation efforts."

US President Donald Trump then announced a peace deal with Iran had been reached and the United States would end its naval blockade of the country, marking the most significant development in months of negotiations.

In turn, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said the text of the memorandum of understanding with the United States had been finalized and would be officially signed on Friday in Switzerland.

Later, the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) of Iran confirmed the existence of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) mediated by Pakistan to end the war with the United States.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday, there was no agreement with the US that would be sustainable "without comprehensive guarantees for Lebanon's security and territorial independence."

"The mention of the name 'Lebanon' three times in the recent memorandum of understanding shows the strategic position of this country in the reconciliation process," Esmail Baghaei said, launching Anadolu from Tasnim.

"Establishing a ceasefire and ending the war in Lebanon is an integral part of a comprehensive understanding to end the war," he added.

Despite the announcement, Israeli soldiers continued to launch airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 3,700 people, wounded nearly 11,500, and displaced more than 1.5 million people since March 2, according to Lebanese officials.