JERUSALEM/BEIRUT – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the Israeli military will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, even if there is a demand from the United States.

Speaking at the MUNI EXPO 2026, a municipal sector conference and innovation exhibition in Tel Aviv, the minister added that 200,000 Lebanese residents who were evacuated from southern Lebanese communities will not be allowed to return home.

He explained that in past security zones, where there was also a civilian population, there were explosive devices and attacks against Israeli soldiers, "so we do not allow that now."

"Soldiers inside, residents outside. The infrastructure is destroyed, the houses are threatening and destroyed. We are not withdrawing," he added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said at the conference that more than 7,000 rockets, missiles and drones have been launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon into Israel since March this year.

Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in a new round of armed conflict since March. Following the outbreak of fighting, Israel launched extensive strikes in southern Lebanon, which have killed more than 4,000 people, according to Lebanese official figures.

Last week, a ceasefire agreement was announced. However, despite repeated calls from Lebanon for a full Israeli withdrawal, Israel continues to maintain a military presence in southern Lebanon.

2 killed in Israeli drone strike

Also on Wednesday, two people were killed when an Israeli drone struck an SUV near the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Remmen, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

The NNA said the drone targeted a BMW X5 vehicle on a road linking Dabsha Hill and the outskirts of Kfar Remmen, killing the two people aboard. Further details about the victims were not immediately available.

Separately, an Israeli military patrol accompanied by a D9 bulldozer entered the southern Lebanese village of Ain Arab and ordered residents to evacuate their homes by 5:00 pm, according to local sources.

The patrol reportedly instructed the village chief to inform residents that their homes would be demolished if they failed to comply with the evacuation order.

The move came one day after the Lebanese army reopened the road leading to Ain Arab by removing an earth barrier, allowing several residents to return to the village after months of restricted access.

Lebanon demands for full Israeli withdrawal

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Wednesday reaffirmed Lebanon's demand for a full Israeli withdrawal from its territory, saying Beirut will not accept any continued Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.

"We know exactly what we want from the negotiations, which is a full Israeli withdrawal," Salam was quoted as saying by local news website Lebanon Debate.

"Lebanon will not accept the continued presence of Israeli forces at five points or even two points," he said during a meeting with a delegation from the Lebanese Press Syndicate.

Salam noted that Lebanon is part of a mechanism established in Switzerland to help consolidate the ceasefire, while separate negotiations in Washington are "the least costly path for Lebanon."

He said Lebanon is also seeking the release of detainees and the resolution of outstanding border issues with Israel.