Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had adopted a policy under which the Israel Defense Forces would stay in the areas to protect Israeli borders and communities.Katz said the deployment was intended to counter threats from armed groups and warned Iran that Israel would respond with full force if attacked in connection with the conflict in Lebanon.

The statement came after Washington and Tehran announced a deal calling for an end to military operations, including fighting linked to Lebanon.Lebanon has urged displaced residents not to return immediately, saying details of the agreement remain unclear and security conditions are still uncertain.

The Israeli government has maintained that its forces must continue operating in strategic areas, while regional actors continue diplomatic efforts following months of escalating conflict.

The developments come as the Middle East faces ongoing security tensions involving Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.

Despite formal ceasefire arrangements remaining in place, fighting has persisted across multiple fronts, with Israeli military operations expanding in Gaza and southern Lebanon and U.S. and Iranian forces continuing to exchange fire amid efforts to negotiate more lasting settlements.

In Gaza, an October ceasefire brokered with strong backing from U.S. President Donald Trump ended two years of full-scale warfare and secured the release of remaining hostages seized during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. However, key provisions aimed at establishing a postwar framework have yet to be implemented.

Israeli forces have continued military operations in the territory, capturing additional areas and targeting Hamas leaders. Israel now controls roughly 60% of Gaza, up from about half when the ceasefire was agreed, according to figures cited by officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel intends to expand its hold further.The United States and Israel have attributed the stalled implementation of the ceasefire to Hamas’ refusal to disarm.

Hamas, in turn, has accused Israel of repeatedly violating the agreement through continued airstrikes and military operations. Local health authorities say at least 932 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect.Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians continuing to live in temporary camps while reconstruction efforts remain stalled and plans for a new Palestinian governing structure unresolved.

In Lebanon, an April ceasefire has similarly failed to end hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. Fighting intensified over the weekend when Israeli troops raised their flag over Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, marking Israel’s deepest advance into Lebanese territory since the end of its 1982-2000 occupation.

Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks reaching deeper into northern Israel, underscoring the limited impact of efforts to de-escalate the conflict. The latest exchanges came despite Trump stating that both sides had again agreed to reduce tensions.Israel has said it will continue military operations until it no longer faces threats from Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks.

Lebanese efforts to address Hezbollah’s military status have made little visible progress as clashes continue along the border.The conflict in Lebanon has become increasingly linked to wider regional diplomacy. Iranian officials have demanded a ceasefire in Lebanon as part of any broader understanding with Washington.

Meanwhile, a separate ceasefire reached in early April among the United States, Iran and Israel has also come under strain. The agreement was designed to halt regional hostilities and facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route whose disruption triggered sharp increases in energy prices.

Iran initially announced it would reopen the waterway but later reinstated restrictions after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Washington has called for the unrestricted reopening of the strait and seeks concessions from Tehran regarding its nuclear program, while Iran has demanded sanctions relief, an end to the blockade and guarantees against renewed military action.

Negotiators appeared close to an agreement last week but failed to reach a breakthrough. Trump has repeatedly warned that military action could resume if Iran retains its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Iranian officials have said substantive nuclear discussions require a more durable ceasefire.

Military incidents have continued in and around the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, the United States said it struck Iranian radar and drone facilities after Tehran allegedly downed a U.S. drone over the weekend. Iran subsequently said it launched missiles targeting American personnel in Kuwait, while U.S. officials said the missiles were intercepted.

In a statement posted on X, U.S. Central Command said it would continue protecting American forces while supporting efforts to maintain the ceasefire.

The persistence of military operations across Gaza, Lebanon and the Gulf highlights the growing gap between formal ceasefire agreements and conditions on the ground, where competing security objectives and unresolved political disputes continue to fuel violence.

The criticism followed Trump’s statement that Israel would suspend planned strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut as part of a new ceasefire arrangement. Lebanon later confirmed an agreement under which Israel would stop attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs while Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israel.

Opposition figures, including former prime minister Naftali Bennett and centrist leader Yair Lapid, accused Netanyahu of yielding to U.S. pressure. Bennett said the government had “lost control of Israeli sovereignty,” while Lapid argued Israel was acting as if it were under American oversight.

Netanyahu rejected the criticism, saying Israel’s policy remained unchanged and warning that any future Hezbollah attacks would trigger strikes on militant targets in Beirut.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel had refrained from attacking Beirut at Washington’s request but warned that renewed Hezbollah attacks would bring a military response.

The dispute highlights growing political tensions ahead of elections expected by October, with Netanyahu facing pressure from rivals who favor a tougher military approach toward Hezbollah.

The ministry said missile, rocket and air defense systems accounted for 29% of export deals, making them the largest category of sales. Observation and optronics systems also recorded strong growth.

European countries were the biggest buyers, accounting for 36% of exports, followed by Asia-Pacific nations with 32%. Countries in the Middle East and North Africa purchased 15%.

Defense Minister Israel Katz linked the export growth to the performance of Israel’s military and defense industries during ongoing conflicts involving Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

The announcement comes as Israel seeks to expand production of Arrow missile interceptors amid continued regional tensions and heightened demand for advanced air defense systems.

In a joint statement, Israel’s Defense Ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality said the planned complex would include a military museum, a recruitment office and an office for Defense Minister Israel Katz.

Katz described the move as a matter of “sovereignty, Zionism, and security,” according to the statement.Israeli authorities demolished structures inside the UNRWA compound in January after ordering the agency to vacate the premises and halt operations at the site.

UNRWA condemned the demolition at the time as a violation of international law.The agency had stopped using the compound since the beginning of last year after Israeli directives targeting its operations in Jerusalem.A UNRWA spokesperson declined immediate comment on the cabinet decision.

UNRWA operates in East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank, Gaza and several neighboring countries, providing education, health care and social services to Palestinian refugees.

Most countries and the United Nations regard East Jerusalem as occupied territory captured by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Middle East war, while Israel considers the entire city its indivisible capital.

Katz said the establishment of Israeli defense institutions at the former compound carried symbolic significance, accusing some UNRWA employees of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.Israel has alleged that a number of UNRWA staff members were linked to Hamas and participated in the assault that Israeli authorities say killed about 1,200 people and triggered the war in Gaza.

UNRWA has dismissed several employees following the allegations but has said Israel did not provide evidence supporting all accusations against agency personnel.

Former UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini previously accused Israel of conducting what he described as a large-scale disinformation campaign against the organization.

Gaza health authorities say more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began following the Oct. 7 attack.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the attack occurred at dawn on the outskirts of Al-Jabur in the West Bekaa region. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military, which said it was not aware of the reported strike.

The incident comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah that began last week following an escalation of cross-border hostilities.Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had launched rockets and attack drones toward northern Israel, describing the action as a response to what it called repeated Israeli violations of the truce, including strikes on civilian areas and infrastructure.

The Israeli military said Hezbollah had fired multiple rockets at its forces in southern Lebanon and that it had targeted the launcher in retaliation.

Lebanese media also reported continued Israeli artillery shelling and demolition operations in southern areas where Israeli forces remain deployed.

Israel intensified its military campaign in Lebanon after Hezbollah entered the broader regional conflict in support of Iran in early March.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said Israeli forces would respond with “full force” to any perceived threats.Under the terms of the truce, Israel maintains that it reserves the right to act against attacks it deems imminent or ongoing.

Defence Minister said ground operations and air strikes had achieved “many gains” but had not fully neutralised Hezbollah’s presence in southern Lebanon. He added that areas between Israel’s declared security zone and the remained uncleared of militants and weapons.
Katz said the remaining objectives could be achieved either through diplomatic channels or renewed military action once the ceasefire expires. Under the terms of the truce, Israel retains the right to act against what it describes as imminent or ongoing threats from Hezbollah.

As the ceasefire came into force at midnight, displaced civilians in southern Lebanon began returning to their homes after weeks of conflict. However, Katz warned that a resumption of fighting would likely force another evacuation of those areas.

Israel has maintained a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon and established a security buffer zone along the border, which it says has been cleared of militant infrastructure and residents. The defence minister said operations would continue to target remaining positions, including structures Israel alleges were used for militant activity.

According to details released by the United States, the ceasefire framework also places responsibility on Lebanon, with international backing, to prevent Hezbollah from launching attacks against Israeli targets.

The developments highlight the fragility of the ceasefire and ongoing tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, where both sides remain on alert despite a temporary halt in fighting.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted what it described as militant infrastructure, including weapons depots, launch sites and command centers, adding that around 1,000 fighters had been killed during the campaign.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported that at least 1,345 people have been killed and more than 4,000 wounded since the fighting began, including civilians and 53 healthcare workers. The ministry said the casualties included men, women and children, though Hezbollah has not publicly disclosed its own losses.

The conflict expanded to Lebanon on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel, which it said were in response to earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israel has since carried out extensive airstrikes and initiated a ground offensive, significantly intensifying the conflict along its northern front.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Hezbollah’s leadership, including chief Naim Qassem, would face severe consequences for continued attacks, particularly during the Jewish holiday of Passover.

He said Israeli forces aim to push Hezbollah fighters away from southern Lebanon, maintain security control over the Litani area and dismantle the group’s military capabilities.

The escalation has heightened concerns of a broader regional conflict, as cross-border exchanges continue and civilian casualties rise.

According to a statement released by the Israeli Defense Ministry, Hegseth conveyed strong backing for Israel’s military operations and said the United States stood with the country as the conflict continued to unfold. The remarks were made during a discussion between the two defence officials held overnight, the ministry said.Katz thanked the United States for what the ministry described as extensive assistance in defending Israeli citizens, highlighting the role of American support in Israel’s security response during the current crisis.Washington reiterates security supportThe statement from the defence ministry said Hegseth expressed Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security and reiterated that the United States supported Israel’s efforts to respond to threats facing the country.The ministry said Hegseth told Katz that Israel should “keep going until the end,” a message it said underscored the depth of U.S. backing during the ongoing confrontation. The statement did not provide additional details about the operational context of the conversation or the specific measures discussed between the two sides.The United States has long been Israel’s primary security partner, providing military assistance, intelligence cooperation and advanced defence systems. U.S. officials have repeatedly described Israel’s security as a key component of Washington’s strategic policy in the Middle East.Israeli officials acknowledge U.S. assistanceIn the same conversation, Katz thanked Hegseth for the support the United States has provided to Israel during the conflict, according to the ministry’s statement.The Israeli defence minister said U.S. assistance had been significant in helping protect Israeli civilians, the ministry said, though it did not specify the form of the assistance referenced.The defence ministry’s statement characterised the discussions as part of ongoing coordination between the two countries’ defence establishments as the situation in the region evolves.Security cooperation between the United States and Israel typically includes joint planning, intelligence sharing and operational coordination, particularly during periods of heightened regional tension.Coordination amid escalating regional tensionsThe conversation between Hegseth and Katz took place against the backdrop of widening instability in the Middle East, with military developments drawing increased attention from regional governments and global markets.Israel’s defence ministry said the talks were part of continuing engagement between the two governments as they monitor developments and maintain coordination on security matters.Officials from both countries have maintained close contact since the conflict escalated, reflecting the longstanding strategic partnership between Washington and Israel. The defence ministry statement did not indicate whether additional meetings or consultations were scheduled between the two leaders.The ministry also did not disclose whether the discussions addressed specific military operations or future policy decisions, noting only that Hegseth reiterated U.S. support for Israel and its right to defend its citizens.

The overnight exchange highlighted the ongoing diplomatic and military coordination between the United States and Israel as the conflict continues to shape the regional security environment.