Israel’s finance minister says they will not withdraw from Lebanon

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly challenged US President Donald Trump, saying Israel will not withdraw its forces from Lebanon and rejecting recent American diplomatic arrangements, according to Clash Report.

He said there would be no withdrawal “not by Friday and not after Friday,” adding that Israeli forces would retain full operational freedom across Lebanese territory.

The comments point to growing tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over regional security policy and Iran-related diplomacy.

Smotrich also criticised the Trump administration’s Iran agreement, calling it flawed and insisting Israel should be free to publicly dispute the US framework despite maintaining ties with Washington.

He acknowledged “real disagreements” with the U.S. but said Israel must manage the diplomatic strain while standing firm, describing the approach as knowing “how not to snap the rope.”

On Lebanon, he said Israeli forces would remain deployed in the south and continue to expand their presence for “as many years as necessary” until Hezbollah is disarmed.

Regarding Iran, Smotrich claimed Israel had significantly weakened the country’s economy, industries, and nuclear programme, while signalling that further action was planned.

He reiterated that Israel’s broader goal is the collapse of the Iranian government, saying it would pursue that objective independently and “stand our ground.”

On Gaza, he made it clear that Israeli forces now control nearly 70% of the territory and insisted reconstruction would not proceed without full demilitarisation.

He further noted that the government is preparing new operational plans aimed at the complete dismantling of Hamas, linking long-term military control with settlement expansion in line with past policies in the West Bank.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov