Defense Minister Israel Katz stated at a briefing for military reporters on June 30, 2026, that a pilot program for Israel Defense Forces (IDF) withdrawals from parts of southern Lebanon would initially concentrate on the area between the IDF's Yellow Line and the Litani River.

On July 1, 2026, during a memorial ceremony for IDF soldiers killed in the Second Lebanon War, Katz said the IDF's current military goal in Lebanon is to change the reality and bring security to the residents of the north.

"The October 7 massacre made it clear that Israel must not wait until threats are at its door," Katz said.

Katz stated that the IDF will remain in security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza for an unlimited period. "The IDF will not withdraw and will remain in the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza - for an unlimited period of time - in order to protect our residents and communities from there against jihadist elements," he said.

He added that there would be no Israeli redeployment in southern Lebanon without specific conditions. "There will be no Israeli redeployment in southern Lebanon, and there will be no withdrawal whatsoever as long as the Hezbollah terrorist organization has not been disarmed throughout Lebanon and the safety of the residents of the north has not been guaranteed," Katz said.

Regarding other regional threats, Katz said, "We crushed the nuclear program it was advancing and removed an existential threat from over the citizens of Israel." He also stated, "We thwarted its leaders, headed by [former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei, who led the plan to destroy Israel."