The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to maintain its self-declared "security zone" in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, despite the territory being a key point of contention in peace talks between the US and Iran.
"The IDF will continue to act with determination in order to neutralize threats against our soldiers and our citizens, demolish terrorist infrastructure, and maintain the security zone in southern Lebanon," Netanyahu posted on X in a joint statement with Defence Minister Israel Katz and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir.
This followed a meeting of the three with the commander of the Northern Command, according to the post.
Israel's armed forces will therefore continue to operate in the neighbouring country to ward off threats to its own soldiers and citizens. In addition, the infrastructure of the Lebanese Iran-backed Hezbollah militia is to be destroyed. The overriding principle would remain the security of Israeli citizens and soldiers "without compromise."
Media had previously reported that the US government wanted to limit the military leeway of Israeli units in Lebanon following a bilateral framework agreement between the US and Iran to end regional conflicts, which also includes Lebanon.
New map with larger area
Netanyahu described the zone established by the army in southern Lebanon on the border with Israel as a barrier between the Hezbollah militia and citizens and communities in the north of the country.
The Lebanese government, by contrast, classifies the area as state territory occupied in violation of international law.
Israel's Arabic-speaking military spokesman Avichay Adraee published a new map last week that covers a larger area than before. According to calculations by the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient Today, the area occupied by Israel grew from 600 square kilometres in April to around 620 square kilometres in June. That corresponds to about 6% of Lebanese territory.
