Israel tells Pentagon will keep troops in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza so-called 'security zones'

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz told his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, early Thursday that Israel intends to keep its forces in what it calls "security zones" inside Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Katz's office said the two men spoke overnight and that the minister "emphasized 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 came days after U.S. President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli forces from 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 fueling 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 deployed troops to the U.N.-patrolled "buffer zone" separating Israeli- and Syrian-controlled territory on the Golan Heights.

Since then, Israel has repeatedly entered Syrian territory and carried out airstrikes. Israeli officials have said they want a demilitarized zone in southern Syria.

In Lebanon, Israeli forces continue to occupy what Israel describes as a "security zone" extending roughly 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory.

Lebanon and Israel, which have no formal diplomatic relations, are holding talks to end hostilities after Hezbollah opened a front against Israel in March as part of the broader Middle East war.

The two countries concluded their fifth round of talks in Rome on Wednesday.

The U.S.-brokered negotiations aim to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, beginning with two "pilot zones" outside the area Israel has designated as a security zone.

In Gaza, Israeli forces control about 60% of the territory and maintain a military presence along the enclave's perimeter bordering Israel and Egypt.