3 min readJun 16, 2026 10:35 AM IST
First published on: Jun 16, 2026 at 10:18 AM IST
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (Jun 15) said that his country would continue deploying its military forces in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria “for as long as necessary,” hours after US President Donald Trump announced the completion of a deal with Iran, ordering the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade.
Speaking at a televised press conference, Netanyahu emphasised that Israel has set up extensive security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria and asserted that the Israeli troops will stay in these regions for as long as it takes to defend the nation.
“We established deep security zones around the State of Israel. We did this in Gaza, in Lebanon, and in Syria,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“And I want to make it clear: we will remain in these security zones for as long as necessary to protect our country,” he highlighted.
Israel, US removed ‘immediate’ Iranian nuclear threat, says Netanyahu
Netanyahu said that the nuclear threat from Iran was an “immediate danger” that his country successfully removed “together with our American friends.”
He stated that Israel’s largest-scale offensive ever against Iran targeted nuclear scientists, top leadership, and the country’s nuclear facilities.
The Israeli prime minister further highlighted that the strikes devastated Iran’s missile production, military infrastructure, navy, and air force, while also eliminating Basij commanders responsible for domestic repression.
“We launched the largest attack operation in Israel’s history. We targeted the nuclear scientists; we eliminated the leaders of the terror regime; we crushed the nuclear facilities; we destroyed missiles and the vast majority of the factories that produce missiles. We struck countless military industries and infrastructures. We destroyed their navy, their air force. We eliminated Basij commanders who massacred the Iranian people. We caused enormous damage — [some] estimate it in the hundreds of billions of dollars, some estimate it at even close to a trillion dollars — to Iran’s economy,” he said.
“We removed, for years to come, this danger hanging over us of the elimination of Israel’s population. That is what we did. We saved the State of Israel from annihilation,” the Israeli PM added.
His remarks come shortly after the United States and Iran announced a peace framework that includes a ceasefire period and efforts to de-escalate regional fighting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had established “security zones” in all three areas (Photo/X @IsraeliPM) 
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