Israel tells Pentagon chief will keep troops in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza 'security zones'

JERUSALEM — Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth early Thursday that Israel is determined to keep its forces in "security zones" it has carved out inside Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Katz's office said the two men spoke overnight and the minister "emphasised Israel's determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon in order to protect Israel's borders and the communities near the border from the threats posed by jihadist forces." "We have never asked the United States to act in our place along our borders," Katz said.

His comments come days after U.S.

President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria and Lebanon, according to U.S. news outlet Axios.

Citing a U.S. official, Axios reported that Trump told Netanyahu the Israeli deployment was fuelling tensions in Syria.

"They don't want you there.

You should redeploy," Trump told him, according to Axios.

After the December 2024 overthrow of Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, Israel sent troops ...