Defense Minister Israel Katz said that "Prime Minister Netanyahu and I are leading a clear policy that establishes that the IDF will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza - indefinitely - to protect the border and Israeli communities from jihadist elements. The territory will be free of local residents. This is the main lesson from the events of October 7. We oppose the IDF's withdrawal from Lebanon - despite all the existing pressures and those that will come." According to him, "Netanyahu made this clear to U.S. President Trump and other senior American officials, and I also clarified this yesterday to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth."