Israeli leaders, speaking at a combat officer inauguration, threatened to attack Iran again.
MEE staff Published: 26 June 2026, 12:18 BST | Last updated: 14 minutes ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said troops would remain in southern Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip indefinitely, both speaking at a combat officer induction ceremony in southern Israel on Thursday.
„We control southern Lebanon, starting from the top of Fort Beaufort, and we will remain in the security zone as long as necessary,” Netanyahu said. „We have no intention of withdrawing from there.”
Katz added: „The Israeli army will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza without any time limits.” He stated that Israel opposes a withdrawal from Lebanon, „despite all existing and expected pressure.”.
„"There is another important message that I hope is well understood in Tehran: if Iran attacks Israel because of our activities in Lebanon, or for any other reason, we will strike back with full force, in a way that clearly shows the power difference between us," the defense minister added.
These statements were made after the Middle East Eye revealed earlier this month that Israel has built a chain of military bases across southern Lebanon and Syria, suggesting it intends to remain in the territories it has occupied since 2024.
On Friday, the Israeli military continued its operations in southern Lebanon; the Lebanese National News Agency reported that troops bulldozed and burned houses in the town of Markaba. The report, citing the Lebanese Ministry of Health, said airstrikes killed two people and wounded one in Mayfadoun. Another strike was also reported in the Nabatiyeh al-Fawqa area.
The Israeli military said four soldiers, including two officers, were wounded in a direct clash with a Hezbollah fighter in Beit Yahun. The fighter was said to have thrown a hand grenade before being killed in a firefight.
Israeli forces have killed at least 4,230 people in Lebanon since they resumed hostilities in early March, days after the outbreak of the US-Iran war. Daily Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have killed dozens of people, despite a ceasefire agreed a week ago.
Meanwhile, in Syria, Israel continues to occupy the strategically important Mount Hermon, which overlooks Israel, Lebanon and Syria. Israeli forces occupied the area, which was previously a UN buffer zone, in December 2024, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government. Syrian authorities say they have not left the area since, and Israeli forces have carried out more than 1,000 airstrikes and 400 ground incursions there.
In parallel with this, the Haaretz Senior Israeli security officials met on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, despite previous attempts to advance such plans having failed repeatedly, according to reports.
„"Voluntary" emigration
The Israeli daily reported that Shmuel Ben Ezra, head of the National Security Council, called an urgent meeting with defense officials to discuss „encouraging voluntary emigration” from Gaza. The meeting also included officials from the Israeli army, Shin Bet, and Mossad. During the meeting, Mossad representatives reportedly stated that the intelligence agency had not found any country willing to accept Palestinians from Gaza.
Last month, Netanyahu ordered the army to occupy 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, in clear violation of the October ceasefire. When the ceasefire went into effect, Israeli forces controlled about 53 percent of Gaza, including large areas in the enclave’s north, south and east. Since then, the Israeli army has increased its control to 60 percent.
A further expansion to 70 percent occupation would crammed Gaza’s 2.2 million Palestinians into just 109 square kilometers. Israel has killed more than 73,000 people and wounded more than 173,000 since the genocide began in October 2023. Since a ceasefire last October, Israeli forces have killed at least 1,024 people in Gaza and wounded another 3,260.
