Israel defence minister vows troops to stay in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz visited southern Lebanon on Wednesday, vowing to keep troops in a so-called "security zone" as well as in Syria and Gaza.

The comments came almost two months after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-sponsored framework deal that involves the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon's south and the deployment of the Lebanese army to the region, starting in test areas known as "pilot zones". The United States plans new talks in early September in Rome between Israel and Lebanon.