World

Israel to continue operations in Lebanon for now despite ceasefire, defence minister says

By Reuters Reuters

Updated June 4, 2026 12:09 AM

An Israeli military vehicle moves along a road in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem — An Israeli military vehicle moves along a road in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem Shir Torem Reuters

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-PREVIEW:48000:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-STREAM:22.050:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-STREAM:48000:M4A aac

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-STREAM:48000:MP3 mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-STREAM:48000:WAV wav

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOA537202062026RP1-STREAM:48000M:WAV wav

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP537202062026RP1-BASEIMAGE:960X540 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP537202062026RP1-THUMBNAIL:160X90 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP537202062026RP1-THUMBNAILGRID jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOP537202062026RP1-VIEWIMAGE:512X288 jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:1756:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:2000:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:5128:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:700:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:8256:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:8256M:16X9:MP4 H264/mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:CLOSEDCAPTION:SRT srt

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:CLOSEDCAPTION:VTT vtt

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LOV537202062026RP1-STREAM:SHOTLIST:JSON json

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:13756:16X9:HD1080I50:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:13756:16X9:HD1080I60:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:1756:16X9:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:2128:16X9:MP4 mp4

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:SD525I30:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-STREAM:6756:16X9:SD625I25:MPG mpeg

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-THUMBNAILGRID jpegBaseline

tag:reuters.com,2026:binary_LWD537202062026RP1-VIEWIMAGE:768X432 jpegBaseline

JERUSALEM - Israel will continue its operations on the ground in southern Lebanon for the time being and Lebanese residents forced from their homes by Israel would not be able to return, Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday.

His comments came a day after Lebanon and Israel said they had agreed to implement a ceasefire during talks in Washington. The deal is contingent on a cessation of fire from militant group Hezbollah.

In a statement, Katz said troops would remain in its so-called security zone in southern Lebanon, including in the area of Beaufort Castle, a 900-year-old fortress captured by Israel on Saturday.

He said Israel would continue to "dismantle terrorist infrastructure in the area" while Israel had "freedom of action, backed by the United States, to strike in Beirut in response to attacks on Israeli communities and territory."

Lebanon and Israel agreed on Wednesday to a new U.S.-backed ceasefire in Lebanon. They had previously agreed to a cessation of hostilities in April that was then extended in May, but violence has continued.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

An Israeli military vehicle on a road in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — An Israeli military vehicle on a road in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Shir Torem Reuters

An Israeli military vehicle in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem — An Israeli military vehicle in southern Lebanon, near the Israel-Lebanon border, as seen from northern Israel, June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Shir Torem Shir Torem Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 11:24 PM.