According to AFP, Mr. Israel Katz - Israeli Defense Minister on July 16 (local time) - affirmed that his country continues to maintain forces in the security zones that the Israeli army has established within the territory of Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip to protect border security and the community living here.
A statement from the Israeli Defense Ministers' Office said that Israeli Defense Minister Katz had a phone conversation with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth and emphasized Israel's determination to maintain a military presence in these areas.
The statement was made just days after information that US President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw troops from Syria and Lebanon.
A US official informed that Mr. Trump told Mr. Netanyahu that Israel's continued deployment of forces is increasing tensions in Syria.
After the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024, Israel sent troops into the buffer zone monitored by the United Nations on the Golan Heights - an area separating Israeli and Syrian forces.
Since then, Israel has repeatedly conducted military operations and airstrikes inside Syrian territory, and has declared its desire to establish a demilitarized zone in the south of the country.
In Lebanon, the Israeli army still maintains a presence in an area stretching about 10km inside Lebanese territory.
Although there are no official diplomatic relations, Lebanon and Israel are still negotiating to end hostilities after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel in March, dragging Lebanon into a widespread conflict in the Middle East.
The two sides concluded the 5th round of negotiations in Rome (Italy) on July 15. The negotiations are mediated by the United States aimed at gradually withdrawing Israel's troops from Lebanon, starting from 2 pilot areas outside the security zone that Israel has established in southern Lebanon.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army currently controls about 60% of the territory and maintains a presence along the border with Egypt.
