[News] ‘We are staying’: Israeli war chief vows indefinite occupation of Lebanon, Syria

[Anti-Imperialist News]

 ‘We are staying’: Israeli war chief vows indefinite occupation of Lebanon,
Syria

The Israeli army has been relentlessly bombarding both countries over the
past few days

News Desk <https://thecradle.co/authors/news-desk-9>

FEB 27, 2025 -
https://thecradle.co/articles/we-are-staying-israeli-war-chief-vows-indefinite-occupation-of-lebanon-syria
(Photo credit: Israel Defense Ministry)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said
<https://www.almayadeen.net/news/politics/%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%AA%D8%B3--%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%B2%D9%85%D9%86%D9%8A---%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%B3%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D8%AC%D8%A8-%D8%A3%D9%86>
on 27 February that Tel Aviv is planning to keep its occupation forces in
southern Lebanon and Syria “indefinitely.”

“There is a buffer zone [on the border with Lebanon]. It wasn’t easy, but I
stood my ground, and we received a green light from the United States; we
gave them a map, and we are staying indefinitely. This is
situation-dependent, not time-dependent,” the defense minister said during
a news conference, according to

The defense minister also vowed that Israeli forces would remain in Syria
as well.

“Israeli policy is to remain there, on the summit of Mount Hermon and in
the dominant positions, indefinitely,” he said, reiterating Tel Aviv’s call
for “demilitarization.” Katz said two days earlier that Israel will “not
allow southern Syria to become southern Lebanon.”

The Israeli army was meant to withdraw entirely from southern Lebanon on 18
February but has maintained an occupation in five key locations inside the
country near the border.

Israeli forces continue to occupy Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill,
Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill.

Tel Aviv has violated the ceasefire agreement over 1,300 times with
non-stop attacks and infiltration of Lebanon’s airspace since the deal was
signed in November last year. An Israeli drone strike
<https://www.nna-leb.gov.lb/ar/justice-law/762487/%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%89%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AD-%D8%AD%D8%B5%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7>
on eastern Lebanon’s Hermel killed at least one and injured at least one
other on Thursday afternoon.

Israeli strikes
<https://thecradle.co/articles/deadly-israeli-strikes-hit-eastern-lebanon-as-drones-continue-flying-over-capital>
on eastern Lebanon have killed at least four people since Tuesday night.

It claims to be acting on its rights within the deal by preventing
Hezbollah from rearming itself. However, the agreement signed by Beirut
does not include anything about Israeli forces having the right to attack
the country, instead stipulating that the resistance’s presence and
military infrastructure must be dismantled by the Lebanese army south of
the Litani River in south Lebanon.

Tel Aviv accuses Hezbollah of having not fully withdrawn to the north of
the Litani River, as per the agreement. It also accuses the Lebanese
resistance of trying to reconstitute its forces.

Avi Ashkenazi, author for Hebrew daily *Maariv*, wrote
<https://t.me/thecradlemedia/30256> earlier this month that keeping a
buffer zone in south Lebanon will be a “mistake” that will result in future
casualties.

Meanwhile, in Syria, Israeli jets have been repeatedly launching violent
airstrikes targeting military infrastructure belonging to the former Syrian
state, and troops have established a widespread occupation across the
country’s south – overlooking the capital, Damascus.

Tel Aviv has announced that it will not allow any armed presence in the
south of the country – prompting protests from local tribes and residents
who have condemned
<https://thecradle.co/articles/syrian-druze-take-to-the-streets-of-suwayda-in-protest-against-israeli-turkish-occupation>
the Israeli interference in Syrian affairs and violation of the country’s
sovereignty.
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