Katz says US has not asked Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says Washington has not requested that Israel withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon, despite Iran's assertion that the US-Iran agreement includes such a provision. Speaking at a convention of local leaders in Tel Aviv, Katz said Israel had made clear it would maintain its military presence. "We have announced that in any case we are not withdrawing and, as of this moment, and this is a diplomatic achievement, there is no American demand for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon," he said.