Israel says troops will occupy southern Lebanon Israel’s defence minister says Israeli troops have been told to prepare for a prolonged occupation in the so-called security zone the army occupies in southern Lebanon. “The prime minister and I have instructed the [Israeli military] to prepare for an extended stay in the security zone”, Israel Katz said in a video statement. His comments came after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-brokered framework that aims to end hostilities and transfer territory to the Lebanese army.