Rescuers are seen at the site of damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday. The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
RUSALEM, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Sunday that the Israeli army will not withdraw from the "security zone" it holds in southern Lebanon, despite a recent ceasefire announcement.
Katz affirmed in a statement that the Israeli military would remain at all positions in the "security zone," which he claimed protects northern Israeli settlements.
He added that there was and is no restriction on Israeli soldiers in Lebanon to act to eliminate threats.
Katz said that following Hezbollah attacks on Israeli forces, the army responded forcefully, killing many Hezbollah militants and damaging many "terror" infrastructures.
"Preserving the lives of our soldiers and citizens is the highest and absolute priority," he stressed.
The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 had risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday. ■
Rescuers are seen at the site of damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday.
The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
People walk on the site of damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday.
The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
A rescuer is seen at the site of damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday.
The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
Residents wait to recover their relatives from damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday.
The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
Residents wait to recover their relatives from damaged buildings after an Israeli airstrike at the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, June 20, 2026. The cumulative death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon since March 2 has risen to 4,057, with 12,121 people wounded, the Lebanese Health Ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said Saturday.
The deadliest attack targeted the town of Qennarit in the Sidon district of southern Lebanon, killing seven people and wounding 13 others, the Health Ministry said in a preliminary toll. Among the injured were five children and five women. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
