Israeli Defense Chief Vows No Withdrawal From Lebanon, Gaza, Syria

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Thursday on a live interview that Israel will not withdraw from any of its current military positions across Gaza, Lebanon, or Syria.

He said the country possesses independent operational capabilities ready to be used against Iran at any time during the interview on Israel’s Channel 14.

"Nobody can tell us what to do, and we've proven it," Katz said.

Lebanese Villages Razed, Residents Barred From Returning

Katz confirmed that Israeli forces have been systematically destroying villages along Lebanon's southern border, with no plans to allow displaced residents to return.

"The entire first line of Lebanese villages has been destroyed. We are destroying all the houses. The residents will never see them standing before their eyes again," he said.

About population displacement in the so-called security zone, Katz said: "In Lebanon, the 200,000 residents who lived in the 'security zone' are not returning. Not one of them is returning."

He also described a deliberate shift in military doctrine away from raid-based operations.

"You remember the raids? They would go in and come out. We go in, destroy, and do not leave. That's what we're doing now in Lebanon," he said.

60% of Gaza Destroyed, a Policy Katz Proudly Owns

Katz stated that Israeli forces now control more than 60% of Gaza, and that the territory has been comprehensively devastated.

"We are already in more than 60% of Gaza, and all of it is destroyed. It is destroyed above ground and underground. That is the difference in the approach we introduced," he said.

"Do you know what really hurts the jihadists? Maybe it hurts them when you kill them personally, but they don't care as much about that. What really hurts them is when you take territory from them and destroy their homes - and that's what we did," Katz said.

Sharp Warning to Syria's al-Julani

Katz addressed Israeli operations in Syria directly, rejecting any role for Syrian leader Ahmed al-Julani in the fight against Hezbollah.

"We are fighting there. We do not need al-Julani. Al-Julani, the terrorist in a suit, does not need to come and help us," he said.

He added a pointed warning: "He should stay in Syria, not interfere with us, and not make us interfere with him."

On the rationale for Israel's continued presence across the border, Katz was direct: "We need to be there to protect ourselves against what we see in Syria."

No Exit From Any Front

Katz said the IDF would remain deployed beyond Israel's borders indefinitely across all three active fronts.

"The IDF must be on the other side of the border, beyond the border, defending the State of Israel against jihadist organizations in Lebanon, in Syria, and in Gaza. We will not move from the 'security zones' - not in Syria, not in Gaza, and not in Lebanon," he said.