Netanyahu says will resist US pressure to pull forces from Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Cabinet meeting that he will resist U.S. pressure to pull forces from Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria, Israeli media reported Monday.

Channel 13 quoted Netanyahu as telling his ministers that Washington is pushing for Israeli troop withdrawals from several fronts, including southern Lebanon, and that he will "stand on my own two feet and resist" any pressure to pull forces out prematurely.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his position that Israel will maintain its security presence in southern Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure or returning to the border area until the group is completely disarmed.

He warned that if Iran or its armed regional proxies (including Hezbollah in Lebanon) launch attacks against Israel using drones or missiles, "it will make a terrible mistake" and Israel’s response will be "very, very forceful."

Netanyahu told his interviewer that Israel has "pushed Hezbollah back" and weakened the group. "That's good for Israel, good for peace, good for Lebanon," he said, adding that the fact that a framework agreement was reached in direct talks with Lebanon shows that Hezbollah has failed to intimidate the Lebanese authorities.

Netanyahu plans to travel to the United States and meet with Trump in Washington on Tuesday, his office has said.

They last met in Washington in February, weeks before they launched the war on Iran that killed senior leaders including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hezbollah fired at Israel two days after the Iran war began, and Israel responded with airstrikes and ground forces in southern Lebanon. Since then, the U.S. has supported landmark direct talks between Lebanon and Israel to try to calm that front and find a way to disarm Hezbollah.