Amid Iran–US peace agreement, Netanyahu declares Israeli forces will remain in Lebanon and Syria
New Delhi : Despite the historic peace agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the three-month-long conflict in West Asia, tensions in the region continue to persist. In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from areas under their control in neighboring Lebanon and Syria.
Netanyahu’s stance amid domestic pressure
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that despite the understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will continue to maintain their presence in the “security buffer zones” under Israeli control in Lebanon and Syria.
Defending the decision, Netanyahu told reporters: "We have established strong security zones around Israel. We have done so in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and we will remain in these security areas for as long as necessary to defend our country."
The statement comes at a time when Netanyahu is facing mounting political pressure at home. Opposition parties and several right-wing coalition partners, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have accused the government of failing to prevent the Iran–US agreement.
Netanyahu, however, maintained that while differences may exist between him and U.S. President Donald Trump behind closed doors, the military campaign had protected Israel from what he described as a major security threat.
Ground situation and background of the conflict
Cross-border hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah began in October 2023 and escalated into a full-scale Israeli ground offensive in October 2024.
Territory under control: Israeli forces currently maintain control over approximately 570 square kilometres (220 square miles) of territory beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
Human cost: More than 3,000 people have reportedly lost their lives in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
Alleged violation of a red line: On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut reportedly killed three people. The attack was widely viewed as crossing a “red line” set by Iran and was said to have caused concern within the U.S. administration, as it risked undermining ongoing peace efforts.
Status of the peace agreement
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a ceasefire between the United States and Iran was reportedly signed on Sunday night through the mediation of Pakistan. Formal signing of the agreement is expected to take place in Switzerland on Friday.
According to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the agreement includes provisions for the “immediate and permanent cessation” of military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon.
However, the firm position adopted by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has introduced fresh uncertainty and placed additional pressure on efforts to finalize the agreement later this week. Observers believe that Israel’s security concerns and its continued military presence in Lebanon and Syria could emerge as key challenges in the implementation of any broader regional peace framework.
